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Corruption must be stamped out to attract investors - Canadian High Commissioner
P
resident Donald R a m o t a r yesterday went on the offensive against western diplomats and other critics of his government saying their actions help to create the negative images of Guyana that sometimes detract investors. Ramotar was speaking at the opening of the Guyana Investment Conference at the International Conference Centre, which was mainly organised by the diplomats. It was the Canadian High C o m m i s s i o n e r, D a v i d Devine, who used his speech to address corruption. He said the insecurity that is created by unwillingness or an inability to enforce laws and regulations is considered by many investors to be the single greatest impediment to the decision to invest. One of the goals of the two-day investment conference is to outline the impact of bribery and corruption on investment and discuss international best practices. “Countries that condone or do not have effective preventive measures in place to stop corruption will find that the investors who are ethical and conscious of their global image will choose to not invest. There still may be investment deals; however these deals may be accompanied by uncertain terms that will not offer the
same integrity and commitment to the country and its peoples,” Devine stated. President Ramotar picked up the Canadian High Commissioner on his talk of
the so-called “secret deals” have been advertised in the very newspapers that sometimes “repeat this nonsense”. He said that repetition of “some of these things” is what helps to
President Donald Ramotar enjoys a joke with businessman John Willems at the opening of the forum.
“Countries that condone or do not have effective preventive measures in place to stop corruption will find that the investors who are ethical and conscious of their global image will choose to not invest.”- David Devine corruption. He repeated earlier statements admitting that there was corruption, but not as it is portrayed by others. To back up his case, he pointed to revelations in TV programmes organised on state television as his benchmark for determining the extent of the problem. Ramotar said that in seven programmes, no case of “strong, entrenched” corruption was established. “We are ready to do it again for anyone who is doubtful. We are ready to talk and to be very open on all of these subjects,” he stated. The President said that what is not recognised is all the procedures and processes the current PPP/C government have put in place to fight corruption in Guyana. He said that before there was no tendering system, but now “all our tenders are published openly.” Ramotar said that even
manufacture and engineer the perception of corruption. The Canadian High Commissioner said investors pursue investment opportunities in locations where practices such as child labour, bribery and corrupt practices are seen as social ills that have no place in business dealings. He said that the investment conference was a necessary start to discuss best practices to help Guyana to forge its own investment path. He urged that the dialogue take place in a constructive manner. “This forum should not be seen as an opportunity to play the blame game or to gain political points, but rather to discuss Guyana’s investment realities and to identify a roadmap for the way forward,” the Canadian High Commissioner said. President Ramotar accused diplomats of overstepping their boundaries and taking positions without prior
consultation. On this front, he blasted the United States government for downgrading Guyana in its a n n u a l Tr a ff i c k i n g i n Persons report. He said Guyana was on Tier 2 last year, but was this year placed on the Tier 2 Watch list. According to Ramotar, the country had done nothing differently and so he could not understand how it was downgraded. He said that year after year the report fails to take into account Guyana’s realities. “Year after year, the report is inconsistent with its method of ranking our country. The report fails to take into account the reports and facts Guyana submits,” Ramotar stated. “Here again we see how subjective and unfair positions can harm the
reputation of our country. Reputation is important in attracting investment.” President Ramotar also used his speech to take a swipe at the U.S government on revelations by former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden of its secret surveillance operations. “We have a free and open society. We do not interfere in people’s privacy. We do not read their mail or anything like that. That is an era I hope that is past forever in our country,” Ramotar stated. The Investment Conference is a multistakeholder collaboration with several partners including the High Commission of Canada, the Government of Guyana, the European Union, the United States Embassy, the British High Commission, the
United Nations Development Programme, the Inter-American Development Bank, REPSOL, Pacific Rubiales, the Private Sector Commission, the Beharry Group of Companies (specifically, GBTI and NAFICO) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry. High Commissioner Devine said that globally, the demand for investment dollars is becoming increasingly limited and competitive, and this is true even for countries like Guyana that are blessed with extraordinary natural wealth. “Investment decisions are made in dollars and cents. Countries that are successful in securing investment funds from (Continued on page 12 )
Irresponsible reporting
aborts murder trial A
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh (left) and Canadian High Commission David Devine in conversation after the opening of the Guyana Investment Conference.
case of total lack of knowledge of the judicial system, an ignorance of what a voir dire is, and poor editing and management by Kaieteur News led to a murder trial being aborted yesterday. The fallout is that Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris, and the court reporter must appear before Justice Brassington Reynolds, today, to explain why they should not be cited for contempt. The case involved murder accused Andrew Gomes, who allegedly killed his father on November 27, 2008, and was objecting to his caution statement by way of a voir dire. This is a trial conducted in the absence of the jury. The killing occurred at Waikabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The newspaper report not only exposed
the missing jury to the comments emanating from the voir dire but it also contained statements that were not even contained in the deposition before the court. Justice Brassington Reynolds, who was hearing the matter, had no option but to abort the trial. Both the defence and the prosecution approached him with copies of Kaieteur News and their individual objections. But the report was more than an assault on the prosecution and the defence, said one lawyer. The accused, Gomes had waited almost five years for his day in court. The newspaper report has consigned him to prison for at least another two years. His case cannot be recalled during these Assizes. Further, the jury which was empanelled, has been reduced to being engaged in an exercise in time-wasting. Today’s hearing begins at 9:30 hours.
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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Diversifying Agricultural Diversification Sugar mono-cropping was long acknowledged as one of the debilitating legacies of colonialism in Guyana. The development of the rice industry by the Indian indentured labourers was allowed only because it relieved pressures on the plantocracy to raise wages in the sugar industry and to elide the repatriation costs. Official attempts to diversify our agricultural base in a systematic manner began in the 1980s when the PNC embarked on an ambitious drive to convert some of the sugar lands into tilapia and “other crops” production - the latter included black-eyed peas. Much of the efforts of the Guyana National Service (GNS) were also aimed in this direction. All of these efforts at diversification literally reverted back to the “bush” after billions of dollars in expenditure. We mention this against the background of the latest injection of funds towards the same end. The UK Department For International Development (DFID) is providing financial support to Government’s Agriculture Diversification and Export Promotion (ADP) drive. The organisation is providing Government with funding to the tune of $400 million to support the Guyana Agriculture Diversification Programme (ADP). The specific goal is to boost the production of tilapia and some for the “4P’s” - pumpkin (butternut squash) and peppers (sweet and hot). The papaya and passion fruits seem to have died on the vine. The Minister mentioned the previous sponsor of his programme - USAID - which had pumped some $2.2 billion into it before moving on. The silver bullet this time, we were informed by the Minister, is “finding” markets. “Find the market and people will find a way of producing, markets drive the production chain,” he promised. But he himself identified the disjunct between rhetoric and reality in this seemingly perennial quest to diversify agriculture. He noted that our Caricom partner Trinidad was importing US$50 million of tilapia this year from China while we were overproducing tilapia for our domestic market. Two points come to mind: did the Minister raise this point when his Trinidadian counterpart visited earlier this year to explore addressing his country’s food security problem by establishing mega farms here? And more pointedly, did our good Minister raise the small point of the 40% tariff that would apply to the tilapia if they were sourced from outside the region when we could supply the item? But the USAID funds were only the drop in the ocean of moneys that have been poured into this diversification drive without any evident progress. Take the goal of the DFID intervention: “to work directly with farmers to introduce new technologies and raise productivity; streamlining the paperwork and red tape for investors and exporters; and helping to build relationships with new markets and buyers.” This sounds eerily similar to the goals of the 2010 IDB programme when $4.4 billion was pumped into the ADP (with another $220 million matching funds from the government): “The programme targets an increase in the export of non-traditional agricultural commodities and it seeks to establish services and institutions for a sustainable increase in the income derived from the export of nontraditional agricultural exports in the aquaculture, fruits and vegetables, and livestock sub-sectors such as beef, peppers, pumpkins, plantains and farm grown fish, particularly tilapia.” Then there was the 2007 International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) US$6M Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development (READ) Project that was supposed to complement the ADP. We will not
Friday June 28, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
CAL WOES, GUYANA AIRPORT EXPANSION AND NO INT’L CARRIERS DEAR EDITOR, The naming of CAL Guyana’s flag carrier was shrouded in secrecy and ill advised. And just a few months later airfares between Guyana and Trinidad are at an all time high of US$450 roundtrip; and to New York it is US$1400. There is no quick and easy solution to the gloomy state of Guyana aviation industry and the game that Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is playing. T h e G u y a n a Government and its flag carrier, CAL, are now at odds with each other. Recent headlines in Guyana reads“Government contemplates taking CAL to Caribbean Competition Commission: for high airfares, ridiculous re-checking of passengers: “We are not anybody’s eye pass-”Ali.” (Minister of Tourism) Many CAL employees are very unhappy with what they alleged is “nepotism, corruption and lack of capable people’ to run the airline. Many, who refused to be named, don’t understand why so much is being done to please the Jamaican market and that Guyana which is CAL’s “bread and butter” is given very little. An airline official said, “One of the problems in
Guyana is the fuel price. It is US$4.80 a gallon. With this price for fuel you can’t make money.” In some parts of the United States it is US$3.00 and in Suriname it is US$3.30. This, coupled with the drug problem at the G uyana Cheddi J agan Airport and baggage thief, will continue to plague the government’s ambitious project of turning Guyana into a regional hub with a US$150 million dollars airport expansion and upgrade. CAL subsidy hurts the Guyana aviation industry and will put other airlines out of business or drive them out of Guyana. CAL drastically increases its airfares out of Guyana when there is no competition and conveniently lowers its fares when there are other airlines flying similar Guyana routes. This sort of predatory pricing will drive airlines out of Guyana alleged airline officials. Another problem with CAL is its lack of flexibility and appreciation of the Guyana market. Take for example when one buys a roundtrip ticket to Guyana via Port of Spain, and decides to stopover there for a few days, they can’t continue with two pieces of luggage to Guyana. They
are told that only one is allowed, but no one is willing to listen to the Guyanese passengers who originated from North America. The policy makes no sense. The stop over cost increases the price of the ticket tremendously because one must pay for an additional ticket to Guyana instead of paying a stopover charge. All these issues should be addressed by Guyana Government. This sort of practice by CAL does not encourage tourism in Guyana. T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s unrealistic dream of a Guyana tourism industry needs a reality check. And with such a small traffic compared to Haiti, Trinidad, Dominican Republic or Jamaica, and top this off with the highest aviation fuel in the region, as well, add Caribbean Airlines’ subsidy from the Trinidad and Tobago government. This all sums to up one thing, Guyana has little to offer. So how is the PPP going to make Guyana a hub between Africa, Brazil and North America when aviation fuel in Guyana is the most expensive in the region and the Guyana market is rather small? Look at the
situation, only three airlines serve Guyana currently and they are all from the Caribbean. But we hear of Air China being courted by the government? This is not feasible. They have been talking to JetBlue for five years now and JetBlue is about to enter the Trinidad market. Now we hear that discussion is underway with COPA of Panama, GOL of Brazil and Aero Mexico. It should be noted as well that COPA’s airfares to the Caribbean and North America is pretty expensive. Surinam Airways (SLM) is still interested in the Guyana-New York route and so far has the best in-flight service in the region. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Ethiad and Turkish Airlines, four of the world top 10 airlines are all flying into South America and soon Turkish Airlines will fly next door to Caracas, Bogotá, Havana and Mexico City. Guyana and Suriname need to offer something to an ambitious Asian or Middle Eastern carrier that wants to compete with the European airlines that dominate South America and the Caribbean. Georgetown shouldn’t trust CAL- Caribbean integration is dead a long time ago. Ray Chickrie
More confusion at Vryheid’s Lust DEAR SIR, Thank you for publishing our first letter that we wrote to you more than a week ago with regards to the illegal squatting/land grabbing in the Vryheid’s Lust North community. Since that time we have had some action but the situation has got worse. After the letter was p u b l i s h e d t h e woman continued to build and the husband was overheard by a number of persons as saying that if they have to move then others in the area will have to go. People were advised to report the matter to the
police. The NDC had a meeting which the Chairman, who is the brother of the woman putting up the illegal structure. At that meeting the woman was invited and was asked about the house lot that she was allocated at La Parfaite Harmonie and she calmly admitted that she sold it. This was shocking news since the law stipulates that you cannot sell a house lot that is allocated to you by the CH&PA. You have to sign an agreement when you purchase the house lot. The woman was given a time frame to demolish the
mention the other programmes. Where did all the money go? And we have not mentioned the countless billions that came directly from the Consolidated Funds to provide infrastructural development that supported the entire agricultural sector, including the crop diversification. It appears that the wheel is being reinvented every time a donor offers some funding. It was pointed out by letter writers that the Minister’s recent announcement that his Ministry will be encouraging the cultivation of black-eyed peas appeared to be completely oblivious of the previous GuySuCo and GNS initiatives. We suspect that most of these funds might have been spent on consultants and insiders as was the case with the IDB’s Citizens Security Programme now under investigation.
illegal structure. Nothing was done and a team was sent to dismantle the structure. The woman and her family prevented the dismantling by behaving in a very uncivilized and crude manner. Chad Ramsarup from HGP Channel 67 was present and interviewed the woman. During all of this they continue to make threats of what they will do to the people in the area. Selected portions of the interview were featured in the Evening News of Channel 67 - nothing of the abusive and threatening behaviour was aired. It should be noted that Chad Ramsarup is closely related to the woman. In the selected interview the woman claimed that the NDC collected taxes from her, allocated a lot number to the lot and was given permission to obtain water and electricity. She also claimed that she was given a letter by Nigel Hughes. She further claimed that the initial structure was a wooden one with an outside
toilet and that during the construction to change the toilet the building collapsed hence the reason for the new structure. This is a blatant lie, the old structure never collapsed, it was dismantled. Since all of the above mentioned the woman continues to build and has now extended the perimeter fence to occupy more of the government reserve. This has now become a distinctive case of land grabbing. We wonder what the Region Chairman has to say about this now. We are asking that our letter be published and we are publicly asking the Minister of Local Government, the CH&PA, Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Housing to urgently intervene in this matter and correct the wrong doing. Thank you for your assistance in getting our problem publicized and we look forward from action from the relevant Ministers mentioned. Frustrated residents o f Vryheid’s Lust North.
Friday June 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
Letters... Where your views make the news
Challenging role for new TDO under the GBC DEAR EDITOR, I have learnt of the recent appointment of Mr. Monty Lynch, the former Guyana and England batsman as the new Territorial Development Officer (TDO) of the Guyana Cricket Board, replacing former West Indies fast bowler Reon King, whose tenure may have become untenable following the installment of the Interim Management Committee by the Government. In fact Mr. King’s designation was that of Cricket Development Officer (CDO) after the WICB had made the change from formerly the TDO a few years ago. Notwithstanding, Mr. Lynch’s role in the reverted status as TDO will be quite a colossal task in reversing the fortunes and damaged psychological image of Guyana’s cricket since there have been sporadic successes at all levels as well as administrative uncertainty; an indication that the consistency with which Guyana had achieved its glowing reputation in the past is rapidly waning. While I am impressed with
Mr. Lynch’s resume and international playing and coaching experience, he will need to quickly assess the local structures particularly in Essequibo where despite the abundance of talent, the administrative and technical resources have been minimally advanced to achieve the desired objectives. I have observed that in the current scenario players have been selected for inter-county tournaments from Essequibo merely on their natural ability. Generally though I anticipate that the new TDO will provide a comprehensive and strategic plan that will be unique in providing for the needs of each county and to ensure that there is uniformity in executing such vision. Inter-county tournaments are not what they used to be. There were anticipated rivalry and pride that brought out the best from the players. Today, it’s the opposite precisely due to a lethargic system that only seem interested in satisfying the obligation of selecting teams to compete in WICB tournaments. Mr. Lynch will do well to be present at the current under 19
matches organized by the GCB and along with the relevant personnel have reviews of the young players in addressing their limitations in a timely manner. Such a course can contribute to the players being studiously aware and appreciate the comfort advice that will be advocated for the benefit of raising the level of their game and at the same time reinforcing the conviction that the talent seen can be of significant value whilst playing for the country. Follow-up clinics within the various disciplines, coordinated network among the three counties and equally having a professionally driven support staff should be Mr. Lynch’s benchmark for returning Guyana to consistent success as was achieved when Guyana won the under 19 title for five consecutive years. The challenges are not insurmountable but it will be a serious test for the current administration to fully support Mr. Lynch. Elroy Stephney
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Orealla residents to install IMC Govt. making excuses to not Strategic Action Security saga…
Residents of Orealla are moving to disband its Village Council and instate an Interim Management Committee (IMC) in an effort to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial affairs of the existing Council. This is according to a resident, Carl Peneux, who, during Alliance For Change (AFC) press conference at Sidewalk Café yesterday, said that residents were forced to take this decision at a general meeting last Sunday because of inaction by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Village Council. Peneux said that this Sunday, residents will approach the Toshao and demand that he resign and if that fails they will take over the Village Council office on Monday. The Committee members will comprise 12 to 15 and residents will select the Chairman. It was noted that all business associates would be informed to immediately stop doing any business transactions with the discarded Toshao and Councillors. Explaining this decision, Peneux said that on three occasions residents signed a petition and forwarded it to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, for action. In January of this year, Sukhai sent her adviser, Yvonne Pearson, to meet with residents where numerous issues were raised. Pearson
terminate contract – APNU
Carl Peneux and Lloyd Peneux was unable to make any decisions and promised that the Minister would act. Several weeks ago, the residents were informed that officials from the Ministry would visit the community to address their concerns. But the officials did not show up. Some of the burning issues affecting residents include the shutdown of electricity system in Siparuta since October 2012 and shutdown of electricity in Orealla for over a month; unacceptable potable water in Orealla; the defunct state of the village boat, tractor, canteen and a missing mobile sawmill, as well as concerns about Presidential Grants. Carl Peneux claimed that residents have been acting in accordance with the Amerindian Act, but the Minister has deviated from same. He said that the Minister was expected to act
once more than 51 percent of attendees of the general meeting requested the investigation. According to Lloyd Peneux, who was also at the press conference, the meeting held on Sunday saw the attendance of 110 residents, but only 93 persons signed and registered at the gathering. In addition, 10 residents of Siparuta Village attended. Peneux stressed that residents of Orealla want the relevant authorities to act on their desires. He said that a copy of the petition was sent to Leader of the Opposition, David Granger who promised to raise the matter in the National Assembly.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is not buying Government’s excuse that it cannot legally terminate all State contracts from Strategic Action Security following the alleged discovery of stolen items at the firm’s Queenstown head office. APNU Member of Parliament Christopher Jones said that recent statements by Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill convey that Government does not have the ability to terminate the contracts. However, according to Jones, Government’s standard bidding documents for the procurement of security services lists a number of circumstances under which a contract could be terminated including, “The Service provider does not maintain a security which is required and …the Procuring Entity may, by written notice, terminate the contract for convenience”. Recently, millions of dollars worth of suspected stolen items, including several laptops linked to Government’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme, were retrieved from the firm’s Queenstown office during a
APNU’s Christopher Jones police raid. Over 100 of the OLPF laptops disappeared last August from the project’s Queenstown, Georgetown office. The owner of the security firm was taken into police custody and released on bail. “It is an acceptable argument by Government that the Constitution provides for a person to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in relation to the firm’s owner, but, Government needs to understand that Strategic Action Security, which has
won 90 percent of the contracts to secure state buildings, has been discredited as a security firm due to the fact that stolen items was found on its premises. “This firm was securing the same OLPF building when the OLPF laptops went missing. Moreover, this firm was also securing the Ministry of Health building when the equipment with MOH logo went missing. This is not coincidence that the items landed at the firm’s head office.” “Now on the West Demerara residents are being asked to go to La Grange Police Station to identify if items belonging to them that were stolen are among the loot removed from the firm’s building,” Jones said. He added that another troubling aspect of this scenario is that Senior Government officials are being fingered as having interests in the firm. Jones stressed that President Donald Ramotar needs to prove himself a good leader and do the right thing by pulling the contracts. According to a source, one Government Ministry said it would not grant a contract to the firm.
Brazilians “robbed” of raw gold
The Brazilian Mining and General Association are taking a strong stance as it relates to Brazilian nationals being reportedly robbed of their gold. This is according to its Secretary, Antonio Szala, who explained that just recently, a police officer, and officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) went into a mining community and under the pretext of seizing illegal gold, robbed a
- cop allegedly involved few Brazilian Nationals of about eight ounces of raw gold. Szala said that the people were told that the gold had to be seized, since a percentage of it was not given to officials. However, Szala noted that this was indeed, not done, since the Brazilians did not know who they should give it to. The man added that
without any explanation, the “officials” provided the Brazilians with just a telephone number and left. This number led officials of the Brazilian Mining Association to the police officer involved. Szala told Kaieteur News that after being confronted, the police officer pleaded with the officials and promised to
have the gold returned to the rightful owners. But this was not done, and the aforementioned mining association promises to deal with the matter at a higher level. A report of the incident is expected to be sent to the GGMC for an investigation to begin. Szala said that he will also be meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Natural Resources Ministry to address this particular plight of Brazilian nationals.
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RESCHEDULE SCHOOL SPORTS The small things can mean a lot when it comes to education. As such, the Ministry of Education needs to devote less time to the larger issues of curricula reform, teaching training and infrastructure development, and use some of that time to ensure that students spend more time in the classroom and that time is better utilised. Several months ago, the Ministry of Education indicated that it may reexamine the timing of school sports. The holding of these
school sports takes up valuable time during the school term, because first there has to be House sports, then from these House Sports the better athletes are selected to compete in the schools’ athletic competition. This takes at least three weeks. When this is finished there is time taken off for the students to attend and participate in the inter-school championships which begins with the division championships, going all the way to the National Schools’
Championships which are hosted by the Guyana Teachers’ Union. When all of that is completed, half the term would have been completed, and the children have to then begin preparing for examinations. These examinations usually go to the last week of school and, therefore, school sports does deny the children adequate time for their studies. But the problem with extracurricular activities does not end there. No sooner are the students settling in for the
first term, the extracurricular activities take over with preparations for Mashramani. Another three weeks are lost here again. When all of these things are added up it means that our school kids can end up being robbed of a whole term’s work simply because of the extracurricular activities in which they are required to participate. It is not healthy for school sports to be held in the first term when children are now settling in either a new school or a new grade class. Too
integrity.” According to Hughes, about 90 percent of the population is not given opportunities for genuine investment. And, fair and equit a b l e economic advancement are restricted to a small group of politically connected PPP/C businessmen. Only recently, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry in its Competitiveness Manifesto listed the absence of a Public Procurement Commission as one of the 20 barriers to competiveness in Guyana. And, according to Hughes, businesses should be able to tender for projects and compete on a level playing field. “The people, if they are not in the know, they don’t have access to information upon which they can predicate their decisions that are in their best interests of the companies they represent. So even if you are in the business forum; if you are not one of the PPP’s special business group or well connected in Guyanese terms yuh cork duck,” he said.He said that Government’s position on the matter is the removal of their power to give no-objection to the awarding of contracts. Hughes said that the AFC is
of the opinion that the time has come for Guyanese to stand up and increase their agitation for the immediate establishment of the Public Procurement Commission as a matter of national urgency. “Guyana can no longer tolerate or withstand a government which is bent on perpetuating the corrupt and biased distribution of the country’s wealth and opportunities for the benefit of a politically connected few,” he said.In fact, the party has used the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission among its criteria for the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism legislation in the National Assembly. According to Hughes, the AFC does not necessarily believe that the deadline for the legislation is August 26 but rather, November 2013. However, if indeed the deadline is August 26, the AFC cannot predict that the Bill is “dead in the water”. “We can’t predict what will happen in parliament, so for us to prophesy about the death of the Bill would be ambitious and inappropriate at this stage, but certainly where AFC support is concerned its prospects are marginal,” he said.
Contracts exceeding $1B will come under scrutiny - AFC
All Government contracts valued in excess of $1 billion will soon come under scrutiny. The Alliance For Change (AFC) is demanding the names of all beneficiaries of such contracts and the circumstances under which they were awarded. This was revealed yesterday by Chairman Nigel Hughes, during the party’s weekly press conference at the Sidewalk Café in Middle Street, Georgetown. He made those remarks in light of recent utterances by Ralph Ramkarran, former Speaker of the National Assembly, former Executive member of the PPP/C and a columnist, in an article entitled “Guyana will soon qualify as ‘Kleptocratic Republic’”. According to Hughes, Guyana is in a state of national crisis, if one should pay heed to revelations by Ramkarran that only a select few are awarded contracts. He said that AFC’s worst fears have been confirmed since the comment is coming from a person Government told the National Assembly is impartial. Hughes emphasized, “Mr. Ramkarran S.C. disclosed that at the apex of corruption in Guyana is a group of wealthy and influential businessmen who have high political
Nigel Hughes connections... They have access through their political connections, to information on potential opportunities that are likely to emerge in the near to medium term and are in a position to make investments now as to cash in on those opportunities down the road. The PPP leadership is supported and financed by all these groups and state decisions are influenced by their interests.” He added that the most egregious revelation made by Ramkarran was, “the reason why the Public Procurement Commission will never be established is that the PPP is a political organization that now represents a section of the petit bourgeoisie whose interests’ conflict with acceptable standards of
much time is taken away for school sports and divisional and national schools’ championships, which we know have been plagued by controversies. Students have been known to have been relieved of their cellular phones and there are grown men who turn up at these school sports with the sole intention of interfering with schoolgirls. The music that is often played at these school sports leaves much to be desired and some of the gyrations for other extracurricular activities are downright disgraceful. The Ministry of Education should therefore consider holding school sports during the Easter vacation and the inter-school championships during the August vacation. It should also ask that the other events for Mashramani be held on weekends, so as not to take away from the time spent in the classroom. Relieving more time for children to spend in the classroom does not, however, mean that the teachers are going to put in more school work. This is where what is needed are school administrators as distinct from head teachers. The head teachers should be responsible for ensuring that teachers complete the work that is supposed to be completed. The administrators should be
responsible for the nonacademic administration of the school. This simple change will ensure that head teachers pay more attention to what teachers are doing, thereby making sure that the students are not given “a six for a nine”. Our children also spend two whole months at home during the August holiday. This is too long and should be reduced by two weeks. This will allow for two additional weeks for studies. Also, the Christmas vacation and Easter vacation can be better utilized for extracurricular activities, thereby ensuring that during the actual term there are limited interruptions. Parents must support these changes, because the Ministry alone will not be able to push through these changes in an educational system that is still strongly resistant to change. These small changes will make a great difference and do far more than some of the big plans that the Ministry has had over the years but has never really fully delivered.
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
The current history of the PPP, 2001-2013 There can hardly be a successful counter-argument to the one that adumbrates the subordination of the PPP leadership to a very wealthy cabal of businessmen people who are fairly young in age (comparatively speaking) and in possession of unlimited State concession. While one appreciates Mr. Ralph Ramkarran’s reminder of how venal the PPP has become, in all honesty his story of the PPP becoming prisoner of the money people is not new to the keen observer of politics. The penetration of the PPP by the irredeemable nouveau riche is so deep and extensive that the theory
advanced here is that the PPP cannot transform itself into a nationalist force that can oversee acceptable levels of the distribution of wealth that a working class government by nature must do. Mr. Ramkarran and others can preach to eternity, the dialectical reality is that the PPP has become an unhistorical force that will only survive through continued tyranny. There is no class schism within the PPP as what obtained in many communist countries, which can allow for the consolidation of a faction that wants to re-mould the party into its pristine self. In the USSR and China, the communist party always had factions that were
split in their ideological orientation. This schism allowed for the accession to power of Nikita Khrushchev and eventually the unique personality of Mikhail Gorbachev in the USSR and the fall then resurrection of Deng Xiaoping in China. In Cuba, ideological splits are common in the party, with Castro always the eventual decider. In Grenada, the factions were unable to curb their vexations. Since Jagdeo took power, he has obliterated the ideological groups in the PPP, virtually creating a one-dimensional party, loyal to a certain type of capitalism that is not neoliberal or old-fashioned, but downright depraved. A good
vehicles and to purchase the very expense vehicle parts which are usually damaged. They added too that for days, vehicles may be stuck on the road, taking away from work, and the earnings to be gained. It was argued further that drivers are being suspended for the use of the other road which was constructed by the Barama Company. The suspension they however claimed, comes without warning as drivers were not informed that they were not authorized to use the road. The Barama logging company has however explained that the roads in question were built specifically for mining purposes and that they are not obliged to keep up its maintenance. Mohimbra Chand, the company’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Forest planning explained that it was
not agreed that the company should maintain any roads for external users. He stated that there is a main road which leads to a network of roadways. This road is about 80km, Chand said. Beyond that, the roads take different directions; leading to various logging sites. These various roads add up to some 2000km. In essence he pointed out; the external road users are paying essentially for the 80km of proper road that is available. Chand went on to explain that when the company started logging in 2001, the roads were constructed in accordance to the area where logging was being done; he described it as the cyclic manner of logging. When work is done in that particular area, Chand said the road is abandoned unless work resumes in the location, and this is what miners may be using to get to their various
description of this is Clive Thomas’s theory of the criminalized state. Jagdeo’s first move was the ouster of a small vocal, non-corruptible unit headed by Khemraj Ramjattan. Then the knife was turned to Moses Nagamootoo. His ostracization was facilitated by Mrs. Jagan’s hatred for Moses. Next came the voluntary seclusion of Mrs. Jagan. She still represented the essential Jaganite party, but accepted the fact that age had consigned her to history. That left five persons. One was Komal Chand. Though not indebted to the nouveau riche class, Chand was simply not interested in
Miners ‘losing big’ because of terrible Barama/Buck Hall Road By Zena Henry Scores of miners and truck owners have come out in verbal protest of the Barama/ Buck Hall Road, which they say is not being maintained, despite large sums of money being paid. Kaieteur News was told that road users pay some $29,000 for each trip in and out of the area, but instead of being maintained during the rainy season, it is closed. On top of that, the drivers say they are being penalized for using an alternate road that was built as a result of the existing poor one. Wayne Withers and Shanzaam Ali told Kaieteur News that on many occasions trucks are stalled and stuck in knee-high mud and slush, while packed with perishables for the interior. They continued that a lot of money has to be spent to remove the
destinations. Apart from that, he charged that the roads, as a matter of legal obligation, are also designed to handle about 60 tons per truck, specifically coming out of the area, with a specified width also. To the closing of the main road, Chand said to maintain its integrity and safety of its users, this must be done. He added that these are the factors contributing to mishaps in the area. He added that on many occasions when trucks are stuck on the road, it is most times the company which has to aid with their removable and excavation. Chand reiterated that once the drivers pass the 80km of good road they are basically on their own, since the company does not have to ensure that it is in good condition for them to use. He instead advised that the miners devise ways in which they can maintain the integrity of the access roads they need to use.
maintaining any Jaganite grouping inside the PPP that could act as a brake on Jagdeo’s intentions. He was never interested in such a formation. Another Jaganite was Navin Chandarpal. Like Chand, he was not in the pay of Jagdeo’s wealthy cabal. But Chandarpal went in a personal direction that left him in a strategically weak position to oppose Jagdeo. Harry Nokta and Reepu Daman Persaud were sidelined, but they accepted their fate in exchange for handsome rewards to their children. Today both men’s sons are in receipt of lucrative contracts. Only one other person was left who carried the traditional torch of the PPP and that was Ralph Ramkarran. Being the son of one of Cheddi Jagan’s heroes - Ramkarran’s own father, Boysie - Ralph was essentially closest to the original PPP that Jagan and his father nurtured. Ramkarran tried to fool Jagdeo. Just before the PPP chose its 2011 presidential candidate, Ramkaran wrote a nauseatingly sycophantic panegyric of Jagdeo in the Chronicle even implying that he was the best President Guyana ever had, eclipsing Jagan himself. Ramkarran wanted the nomination and he knew only Jagdeo would have decided that. But Jagdeo devastated Ramkarran. Jagdeo was not the fool Ramkarran thought he was. Jagdeo ignored the
Frederick Kissoon Chronicle eulogy of Ramkarran. A Ramkarran presidency meant the end of Jagdeo’s control of the PPP and also the power of Jagdeo in the wider society. Jagdeo was not going to let Ramkarran get the nomination because he knew as President, Ramkarran would not accept to be a little boy. The rest is history. From 2001, Jagdeo literally recalibrated the PPP to serve his economic and power interests. The party was not only silent on the stupendous amassing of wealth by Jagdeo’s friends, but the leadership itself was patronized by the nouveau riche. None in the PPP hierarchy refused the patronage of the nouveau riche. The present structure of the PPP is so dominated by Jagdeoite loyalties that there is no dialectical possibility that an alternative thinking can emerge. The denouement will be the congress in August, where Jagdeo will secure the votes to become General-Secretary. There are only two pathways the PPP can go in continued control of Guyana with rampant, criminalized capitalism or the loss of power which will see the end of the PPP.
Dem boys seh... Donald ain’t talking bout spying at Castellani House Some people like throw hint but nobody can seh that Donald does throw hints. When he ready fuh talk he does talk loud and clear. One woman tell de people at de TV station that Donald don’t talk wid spit in he mouth. De Americans decide to talk to Guyana bout de things that it does do. Dem talk bout de corruption and bout how de government slow to set up de Procurement Commission. Dem boys seh that dem never see Donald get suh vex. He tell de Americans that he and he government don’t peep people e-mail; that dem don’t listen to people cell phone conversation; that dem don’t spy pun people. De Ambassador nod he head. Then he ask de Canadian High Commissioner wha happening at Castellani House. Then de British High Commissioner want to know why dem pressure GT&T and Digicel to buy equipment that can listen to cell phone conversation. It got to be that Guyana and Donald only want to show wha Guyana can do. That is wha de European Union man tell de crowd. But dem boys had a bigger question. Dem want to know wha de government mek Leslie buy de big spy equipment that could trace and listen to cell conversation fuh everybody. That equipment cost nuff money and nobody ain’t claiming to buy it, but people know who been spying wid it. Then de American Ambassador whisper that people can thief in de States but when dem get ketch is real jail time. In Guyana nobody don’t get ketch although everybody thiefing. De man then watch Donald and whisper that is a shame that some country ain’t got people who got de nerve fuh investigate dem who thiefing all de time. And Donald ain’t addressing that. He hear when de Ambassador seh that he should start an investigation and he promise fuh start investigate de people in he party who complaining bout who getting and mek dem ain’t getting. Talk half and find out who spying pun who.
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Kaieteur News
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Arsonists get five years for Health Ministry blaze Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday imposed five-year sentences on the two men convicted for the fiery destruction of the Ministry of Health’s head office and annex in 2009. Family and friends of the duo, Clayton Westford and Colin Jones, both 24, who gathered outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ court yesterday, couldn’t help but express their grief as they yelled at the court and onlooking officers following the sentencing. “There is no justice in Guyana, none at all. How they gonna do this to these poor boys?” During yesterday’s proceedings, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy (who was at the time Minister of Health), was called to the stand once more to submit the final evidence for the case, and recap briefly some of the important details that would have been brought out in trial. When Prosecutor Vishnu Hunte asked the Minister about the estimated damage done to the building, he estimated it to be between 1.2 and 1.5 billion Guyana dollars. It was revealed to the court by Dr. Ramsammy that
Clayton Westford hides his face with a jersey due to the fire a lot of information that was of critical importance to the nation was destroyed. “Various kinds of records were lost. Some related to human resources and personnel records of employees at the Ministry of Health, hospitals and health centers across the country. In addition to personnel records, there were records belonging to professional examinations done by the councils at the Ministry of Health at the time. There were three councils that the Ministry housed and these included the Guyana Nursing Council, The Guyana
Medical Council and The Guyana Pharmacy Council. In all, these licencing bodies would have maintained records of health professionals for doctors, nurses and pharmacists. In addition, these councils would have received complaints from the public and would have investigated these. They might have taken action, disciplinary or otherwise, but even records of these have been destroyed. Other records included financial and administrative, for example, procurement and payments. Further, epidemiological and
Colin Jones surveillance for illness and diseases records were also lost and those were very important records,” the Minister testified. The Magistrate then asked Colin Jones if he had anything to say, and to this he retorted, “Once again, it is a privilege to meet the Minister in person. But all these documents the Minister talking about, doctors suppose to know about these things already and got it store in computers across the nation. We don’t really need to rely on records.
This is no big serious matter as it is made out to be.” To this statement, the Minister informed the court that the records are of critical importance and their loss should not be taken lightly. “For example, the records have documented all the diseases in this country, and now because of this loss, a young doctor has to be extremely vigilant because he hasn’t these records to make reference to. Further, some data were stored on computers, but the main server was destroyed in the
fire and so were other computers.” The Minister was then excused from the witness box. Prosecutor Hunte indicated to the court that as it relates to antecedents, it was found that Jones was convicted for unlawfully discharging a firearm, a matter which was filed July 4, 2012. In relation to Westford, it was noted that no trace of criminal record against him could be found. Attorney at Law, Michael Somersall then addressed the court as he stood to represent Westford. The lawyer said that the defendant is only 24 years old and was a former employee of the Ministry of Finance. The Attorney added, “He is known to have lived a quiet life.” At this point, Westford was seen with his eyes lowered in a pocket-sized version of the New Testament. As tears filled his eyes and finally dropped on the pages, Westford suddenly closed his eyes and pressed the Testament against the left side of his chest. Court was then (Continued on page 25)
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Habitat briefs contractors on housing quality Government officials, among other stakeholders, were briefed Monday on critical housing quality issues during Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc. annual training for contractors at the National Library. According to Habitat, with the focus on Housing Quality Standards, contractors were informed about its building process as outlined by the o r g a n i z a t i o n ’s international body – Habitat for Humanity International. Among some of the issues discussed were location – contractors must avoid building in hazardous, disease-prone or vectorinfected areas. Another issue was the sourcing of materials – as far as possible, contractors should be locally acquired with the environment one in which health and other risks posed by water erosion and standing water are minimized. “Discussions also surrounded durability, water quality and quantity, washroom access, and
space,” Habitat disclosed. During the workshop, the participan t s w e r e a l s o briefed on Habitat G u y a n a ’s housing intervention engagements as well as the o rg a n i z a t i o n ’s new programme model, which focuses on community development, disaster risk
A 35-year-old broker was yesterday charged with the possession of narcotics (250 grams of cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking. When the charge was read to Stefan Harry of North East La Penitence, by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded not guilty. Court documents revealed that on June 26, ranking officers from the Narcotics Branch at Eve Leary, acting on sensitive information carried out a search at the defendant’s home. Officers then allegedly discovered a substance which they suspected to be cocaine. The substance was then taken to the station where it was weighed and the father of three was arrested and charged for the said offence. The Prosecution then
objected to bail on the grounds that if he is granted bail he may not return for his trial and the seriousness of the offense and quantity involved must also be taken into consideration. Attorney at Law, Ms. Latchmie Rahamat attempted to submit special reasons for her client to be granted bail. The lawyer stated that Harry and his wife were not the only persons in the house at the time, indicating to the court that there are many other occupants of the home. She added that her client and his wife were sleeping, when they were awakened by the officers who told them that they found the cocaine in their toilet. Harry was subsequently granted bail to the tune of $250,000. The matter is slated to be called on July 10
reduction, and social action and awareness. The training saw participation from contractors, material suppliers, representatives from technical institutes, and the Ministry of Housing. Beginning its work since 1994 following an invitation from then President Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Habitat for Humanity Guyana was officially registered in
Guyana in 1995. Since then the organization has supported over 3000 families within the c o u n t r y ’s ten administrative regions, through partnership with affiliates, home partners, volunteers, and sponsors to build simple, decent and affordable housing for low income earners. Also, the organization says it has undertaken home
repairs, rehabilitation works, and assisted in accessing secure tenure. “With a new programme direction, added focus will be placed on community development, disaster risk reduction, and social action and awareness. Via resource centres, the organization seeks to make a stronger impact on communities through training, mobilization, and planning of various
community-driven projects.” Habitat has been devoted to building “simple, decent, and affordable” housing, and has been addressing the issues of poverty housing all over the world. The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need , t h e i r willingness to become partners in the programme and their ability to repay the loan. Every affiliate follows a non-discriminatory policy of family selection. There are several checks and balances in place to protect both Habitat and the potential homeowner: Habitat for Humanity performs an extensive background check on potential homeowners, including character references, employer interviews, and audit of finances. The applicants are required to sign release forms authorizing Habitat for Humanity to perform this background check. This ensures that Habitat’s risk is reasonable when selling a home and that the applicant family is in a suitable financial position to take on the responsibility of a mortgage.
From page 3 reputable lenders understand that they have to take the necessary steps to create an investment climate that is conducive to attractive investors,” the envoy asserted. President Ramotar said the government has been working constantly to improve the conditions and the environment for investment. He said that government has been investing heavily, mainly in infrastructure, to encourage investment in the productive sectors. Together with this, he said there has been investment in education, health and social services and upgrading the legislative framework. All of this, he emphasised, is important to make Guyana an attractive place for doing business.
“Today, we have international investors demonstrating a strong positive response to the environment we have established,” Ramotar said. He listed investors such as the Blackstone Group through Sithe Global, the developers of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, bauxite companies Rusal and Bosai, Guyana Goldfields, Repsol, Reunion Manganese and others. He also named the Marriott Hotel, even though the government is yet to name a single investor in the project. He said, too, that domestic investors have been increasing and broadening their investment as a result of the positive environment. The President acknowl-
edged that there are still problems in dealing with red tape and bottlenecks. He said that in order for the country to attract new investment, the government is pushing ahead with the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. Ramotar stated that one of the factors affecting investment is the lack of cheap energy, and hence the Amaila Falls Hydro Project is intended to fill that need. Also addressing the opening of the conference was President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. William Warren Smith. He said that macroeconomic stability, human capital development and environmental management
and climate resilience are among issues that need to be considered, were Guyana to attract investment and sustain growth. Since 1970, the CDB has partnered with Guyana on projects worth US$270 million. Just this year, the Bank approved a loan of US$34 million for the West Coast road improvement project. This year, the Bank also approved a new US$47 million country strategy for Guyana, which focuses on tackling poverty by increasing access to basic social services and improving skills to take advantage of emerging job opportunities, enhancing competitiveness and responding to climate change through coastal protection.
Participants at the Habitat For Humanity workshop
Cocaine trafficking accused granted bail
Corruption must be stamped out to...
Friday June 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
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‘Demon attacks’ at GSA…
Students forced to leave school after second episode By Javone Vickerie “I need an answer to this… I looked at my son and it’s like he don’t know me.” This was the cry of a mother who said that her 18year-old son tried to kill himself yesterday at the Guyana School of Agriculture, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. On Tuesday, students of the school sent cries of help to a number of persons, claiming that their school was under a “demonic attack”. When Kaieteur News visited the school yesterday, scores of students were seen with suitcases and bags, preparing to leave the premises, while some were collected by their concerned parents after they had learnt about the incident. One parent said that on Wednesday morning he received a frantic call from his son who said “Daddy dem things want kill deyself and we in here”. The man said that he immediately contacted the school, but this was to no avail and as such he decided to visit the school. “I traveled from Berbice straight to Georgetown and when I arrived at the school the gate was locked. When I explained to the security that I received a call from my son, he asked me to hold on,” the man recounted. The parent added that he waited for an entire hour before he saw some students, some of whom were in tears and with their bags, leaving the premises. He further stated that his son, who appeared to him to be badly shaken, broke down in tears as friends consoled him. “I kept asking him what happened and he just kept crying all the time and his friends said to me that he was nearly killed by a guy with a cutlass,” the man said. The father suggested that a campfire event which took place on Friday may have been the cause for the “demons’ to attack the
A student (left) being taken away by his parent following the series of events. students. “Dey had the children dem singing ‘call the three-eye jumbie’ while they playing African drums and they dancing around the fire,” the man claimed. Students confirmed to Kaieteur News that this was an annual event for 15 years, and is customarily done before they write exams, as a practice of good luck. A young man (whose name was given) was said to have ran all around the school with a cutlass threatening to kill himself. One student, who is a friend of the lad, said that it took five boys to seize him in order to take away the offensive weapon. “I watch him whole day and I said something wrong with this boy and the next thing we know is he got a cutlass running around the school, so we decide fuh hold him down before he kill someone”, the student said. The visibly shaken student explained that the boy’s eyes “turned up” while he kept shouting and trying to break free from the other male students who tried to
calm him. “I am telling you if we de do like what the administration do and ignore we cries, y’all would be seeing eight bodies coming out from here in body bags. We did it because some of dem who get ketch with this thing are close friends of ours,” the student exclaimed. A female student said that on Tuesday (when the first incident occurred) other persons on campus became very suspicious when a young lady was not seen the entire day in class or on campus. She added that when she and others went to see what was going on, they repeatedly shouted for the girl before they decided to break down the door. “When we pushed down the door we saw her lying face down, completely white, so we thought she had died, but when we turn her over she woke up and said ‘they finally release me,’” the girl said. A resident, Darshanie Ramdin, said that while she looked on at what was happening in the school she began to pray that no one
would be harm. “This might seem as a joke to many people, but the atmosphere was very evil because I heard cries which were not human at all,” Ramdin said. She added that the school, which was built over a burial ground, has seen many such incidents, but this was the worst of them all. Many students however complained that they constantly asked the board of directors to have a Pastor come and pray over the school but this request was refused after it was told to them that the series of incidents were “fabricated” by students who did not want to write their final exams. The students said that due to the events which left some of their colleagues hospitalized and some still traumatized, they decided to return home and sit the exam at a later date. It was related to this publication that only five children sat the exam yesterday. Meanwhile, one mother said that her daughter was rushed to the Georgetown Hospital by the matron and some students when she became “possessed”. The woman added that she was then contacted and told that her daughter was at the hospital seeking medical
attention. “When I go there, I see the doctors pumping a set of valium in her to calm her. She just was staring and not saying nothing,” the mother said. She said after leaving the hospital she was then recontacted and told her daughter was taken to the First Assemblies of God Church. “The nurses dem seh that she body raise up from the bed and they immediately contact the sister from the hospital and when they start praying for her she get up and start attack dem, so they took her to the hospital,” the distraught mother said. Meanwhile, in a release from the Guyana School of Agriculture, it was stated that on Tuesday morning, management received a report that a female student was in her room and she was unresponsive. The release further stated that “the Director of Administration, in keeping with standard operating procedures, responded to this report immediately and the student was rushed to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, the School’s contracted healthcare provider, for urgent medical attention. Her mother was informed and she reached the Matron, who accompanied the student, to the hospital”. The School added that
while being examined by the physician, it was found that the student’s vital signs, oxygen saturation level and her random blood sugar level were normal. This led to a diagnosis of a panic attack/ anxiety disorder being entertained by the physician, who decided to admit her to the hospital for observation and counseling and possibly psychiatric evaluation. Her mother, however, decided against her being admitted to the hospital. The school then said that rumours subsequently began spreading about the girl being demon possessed on the evening of the said afternoon. Three other students who fell ill that evening were taken to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for treatment. Two returned to school that evening, while the other was taken home by her mother. “Students were given the opportunity to leave School’s Compound if they were not comfortable and to return to write their examinations. Students were also offered financial support to pay their transportation costs. Examinations were also pushed back by one day from Wednesday, June 26, 2013 to Thursday, June 27, 2013. Examinations commenced Thursday, June 27, 2013 and will continue as scheduled.”
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Friday June 28, 2013
Drama Festival to encourage literacy in schools With a view to strengthening literacy among students, the Ministry of Education through its Allied Arts Unit is preparing to host the Eighth Secondary Schools Drama Festival which is scheduled for July 3- 4. The biennial event, according to Administrator of Allied Arts, Ms Desiree Wyles-Ogle, will not only allow students from across the country to showcase their various dramatic talents, but will set the stage for the participants from one school to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival. The event is slated for later this year in Barbados. Speaking of the local Festival during an interview with this publication, WylesOgle explained that “the activity is for secondary school students and they must be between the ages of 12... and they must be in
- Allied Arts Administrator
Desiree Wyles-Ogle school if they are going to enter into the Caribbean Drama Festival.” Among the outstanding entries, a few will be selected to participate in the National Drama Festival which is organised by the Ministry of
Culture, Youth and Sport. Wyles-Ogle disclosed that the Allied Arts Unit is tasked with promoting the expressive arts, that is, dance, drama, music, visual arts and physical education in the schools’ curriculum in Guyana. In this regard, the Festival is one that is designed to develop positive dramatic skills, she added. “We want to foster teamwork, self-discipline and clarify ideas, and in that aspect of clarifying ideas we have teamed up with the School Retention programme of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security,” said the Allied Arts Administrator. She explained that this very collaboration was instrumental in having one of the topics chosen for the Festival being child labour. “So we will be having plays, dance, drama and storytelling
in relation to child labour,” said Wyles-Ogle, who explained that the topic is premised on the June 12 World Day against Child Labour observance. She said, too, that the Human Services Ministry had requested of the Allied Arts Unit to undertake some artistic presentations on child labour to commemorate Child Labour Day. “Instead of doing something separately, we decided that we could fuse the activities, but not all the plays will be on child labour...they (participants) can choose others, but those schools that choose the area of child labour will be given special prizes,” said WylesOgle. And those schools that embrace in an outstanding way the topic of child labour will be afforded special prizes, compliments of the Human Services Ministry, valued at $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000. And although the Festival is not intended to be competitive, she did note that the most promising actor and actress of each play will be identified and rewarded with a bag of goodies, even as schools are awarded plaques based on varying merits. According to Wyles-Ogle too, “if they (students) perform with excellence there is a plaque
for that and there will also be plaques for good and satisfactory performances too.” The Festival, which will be held in two sessions (09:30 – 12:30 and 13:00 to 16:00 hours daily) at the Theatre Guild, Parade Street, Georgetown, is intended to target the school population, but Wyles-Ogle informed that the public will certainly not be prevented from attending. Already the Allied Arts Unit has received 17 entries for the Festival with the assurance that some 250 students from across the school districts will participate. The categories for
the entries are ‘Straight Play’ (that is one from a school text), a play from a Caribbean Playwright or a Dance Drama and Storytelling piece. All schools participating will be given support in the form of a stipend from the Education Ministry to finance costumes, props and other needful materials to facilitate their participation, said Wyles-Ogle. She said that the Festival will see directors of the various presentations being duly recognised since “we know they will be working weekends and after hours to make this possible.”
Public Works Ministry commences demolition exercise Demolition and removal of derelict structures encroaching on government reserves will commence today as the Ministry of Public Works plans to target, but is not limited to the following encroachments; Buildings or portion of buildings, barbershops, mobile vending carts, small stands, fence and business signs, unauthorized concrete works on the parapet, derelict vehicles and construction material/ builders waste. The Ministry of Public Works noted that this
exercise will target all major roads starting with the East Bank Demerara, Sheriff Street, Mandela Avenue and the East Coast Demerara. According to the Ministry in a notice published in the media: “This will take effect on all members of the public who are in violation of the laws of Guyana. Those who have not been given notices are advised to take this as the first and final notice to comply with the laws, and remove all encroachments and derelicts from the public reserve.”
Friday June 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
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UNASUR confronts integration hurdles By Odeen Ishmael The death of President Hugo Chavez in March has removed one of the most active trailblazers in the South American integration process, even though his physical absence from a few high-level meetings during his period of illness from the last half of 2012 was very noticeable. But while the integration process has continued since his departure from the scene, some recent political happenings have not helped in the forward momentum. Three of them immediately come to mind. In the first instance, Uruguay’s President José Mujica’s publicly-aired private disparaging remarks about the personalities of Argentina’s President Christina Fernandez and her late husband and former president, Nestor Kirchner, obviously created some animosities between the two nations. In the second instance, Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos’ proposal to establish a military relationship with NATO has seen quick reaction from the more leftist regional leaders. Thirdly, relations between Venezuela and Colombia have dropped to a new low ever since Santos met in Bogota last month with Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles who considers President Nicolas Maduro and his government as illegitimate, claiming that the recent election was fraudulent. Added to these, the suspension of Paraguay from UNASUR since the legislative ousting of President Fernando Lugo last year still remains in place. However, with the recent election of Horacio Manuel Cartes as the new president in Paraguay on April 21, it is expected that the continental organization will lift the suspension as early as July at a summit expected to be held in Ecuador. Soon after the result was announced, UNASUR declared its official recognition of Cartes as the legitimate president of Paraguay, a position to which he will officially accede on August 15. The Uruguayan president’s faux-pas, clearly, will not seriously affect bilateral relations between the two neighbours. He has since apologised for his remarks and insisted that the countries will remain close allies but, no doubt, some rancour still hangs in the air. But relations have not been of their best in recent years ever since Argentina restricted imports and limited access to foreign currencies,
measures which have hurt Uruguay’s exports and tourism industry. Citizens of both countries also recall the tumult that arose over Argentina’s objection to Uruguay’s building of a pulp mill on the Uruguay River, their common border. This dispute dragged on for a few years until 2010 when the International Court of Justice ruled that, although Uruguay failed to inform Argentina of the operations, the mill did not pollute the river. With regard to Santos’ statement of his country’s decision “to join NATO,” Bolivia’s President Evo Morales on June 3 described it as a threat to the region and requested an extraordinary meeting of the Security Council of UNASUR. Morales considered Colombia’s decision as a violation of the treaties signed by UNASUR and could involve a dangerous possibility of military intervention to the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean. He described the move as a “provocation” and a conspiracy against the “anti-imperialist Bolivarian countries,” Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Santos had just the day before announced that his government would sign an agreement with NATO “to start a process of rapprochement and cooperation, with an eye toward also joining that organisation.” He explained that the Colombia army could become an international player if his government can pull off a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to end Latin America longestrunning insurgency. However, Colombia’s defence minister Juan Carlos Pinzon on June 4 clarified that the country was not looking at actual membership in NATO but was merely planning to sign a deal with NATO for cooperation in human rights, military justice and the education of troops. “Colombia cannot be a member, does not want to be a member of NATO,” Pinzon said, clearly pointing to the geographical disqualification. In remarks to the Bogota daily El Tiempo, he explained that the deal “does not imply military bases, nor troops or anything that would put security and peace in the region at risk.” Nevertheless, Colombia’s proposed association with NATO has raised genuine concerns. On June 6 in Quito, Ecuador’s defence minister María Fernanda Espinosa, during a press conference with her Brazilian counterpart, Celso Amorim, said: ”We want to
Odeen Ishamel know more. We are an integrated, cooperative area in South America, and it is important that we discuss these things.” Amorim explained that the worry has arisen over Colombia, “a member of UNASUR, the equivalent of NATO in the continent, approaching a military group from outside our region.” But despite all these
misgivings and suspicions, UNASUR has been making forward strides to enhance the integration process. On May 9 in Quito, UNASUR announced that it had set a steady course to establish a South American School of Defence to train military officers of its member countries. It stated that representatives of the member states were already working on drawing up statutes and courses to be included in the study programme. The ultimate aim will be the creation of a united defence body to promote democratic stability among its member countries. Follow-up discussions will examine the level of participation in the armed forces from each country. The statement concluded: “The goal is to start from scratch and consider a defence doctrine, without starting from the premise of opposing countries. It is important to define our role in the military, to assume responsibility for prevention,
border control or emergency responses.” Another positive aspect was revealed on May 13 when Paraguayan Presidentelect Cartes declared that his country was ready to be reinstated in both UNASUR (as well as Mercosur) after its suspension following the removal of President Lugo in June 2012. Cartes said that the members of both organisations were aware that Paraguay has requested a formula for its reincorporation. He added that he already discussed this issue with the presidents of the other South American countries following his electoral victory. With the general belief that Paraguay will be reincorporated into UNASUR, Suriname, the next holder of the annually rotating presidency of the bloc, decided to postpone taking over this position on July 1 until September 1, since it prefers to preside over the organisation with all its members in place.
A further positive development was demonstrated on May 27-30 also in Caracas when UNASUR held the first South-American conference on natural resources and integral development to define a continental strategy on the issue. The objective was to establish strategic plans aimed at utilising natural resources exploration for promoting development and poverty reduction. According to current data, the regional bloc has 20 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves as well as huge amounts of minerals such as lithium, silver, copper, tin, iron and bauxite, besides having one third of the world’s fresh water and 12 percent of arable land. And finally, the financial infrastructure of the continental bloc began to take shape with the commencement of operations on June 12 by the Bank of the South (Banco del Sur), the regional, financial initiative (Continued on page 16)
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Basic Needs Trust Fund’s success highlighted at seventh cycle launch By Zena Henry Finance Minister Ashni Singh yesterday boasted about the great successes of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and urged that more needs to be done to highlight the organization’s work. He was speaking at the organization’s seventh operating cycle launch which was held at the Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown. Under the theme, ‘Adding value and Strength to our communities,’ participants were reminded of benefits and rewards through the BNTF’s intervention in community development; a quest to provide basic needs to citizens unable to access it. The launch was graced by the presence of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) President, Dr. William Warren Smith. The bank will be making available funds which will contribute to a total of US$7.1M for the seventh cycle. The BNTF programme is tasked with providing resources to poor communities in order to improve access to basic public services and enhance employability which could reduce beneficiaries’ economic and social vulnerability to risks that impact on income and wellbeing. Two beneficiaries, Albert James from Leguan and Soonita Ranjit, principal of the Bath Nursery School on the West Coast of Berbice, related their success stories. Giving
thanks to the Finance Ministry which chairs the BNTF operations and to the CDB which started the BNTF in 1979, James testified that he is now computer literate because of the organization’s intervention. He stated that the information technology programme was brought to his region and he used the opportunity to educate himself. Now he is able to offer voluntary IT tutoring services to persons wishing to use the computer, and also able to earn money by document preparation via computer. Ranjit submitted that her nursery school was built through the BNTF. She explained that while the nursery school was housed at the primary school, it was congested and students were not as comfortable and able to learn as they ought to. Thanks to the needs programme, she said that the nursery was built and an increase in performances and response to schooling was noticed from the youngsters. Minister Singh aired that the testimonies were only two of the many magnificent signs that progress is being made by the CDB-funded programme, while alluding to several others. He spoke about continued advancement in road works; construction and repairs, building construction, the implementation of basic needs and especially, of the provision of IT services. To road construction, he said, “it is a pleasure to hear residents speak of the difference roads are making; with the ease, their children
CDB President Dr. William Warren Smith (left) and Finance Minister Ashni Singh exchange greetings are able to go to school and with the ease goods are able to get into the community”. “I’ve seen the technical and vocational educational training project which has constructed two major centres at Leonora and Mahaicony, and has upgraded and equipped many other technical and vocational centres around the country. Thousands of children benefit from these projects.” “The significance of these interventions is not fully grasped,” the Minister opined. He charged that better documentation of these projects and its success should be kept in order to highlight the extremely important contribution that the bank and the fund are making. Before taking his leave, the Minister reiterated sincerest gratitude to the CDB, reiterating that Guyana
is the largest beneficiary of the bank’s soft loans. The CDB president also stated that Guyana benefited from the largest proportion of loans and grants to countries qualifying for the CDB- BNTF programme. He charged that since the funding of the bank in 1970 to 2012, Guyana received
some $165M in Special Development Fund (SDF) loans at 2 percent, repayable over 30 years, with 10 years for the repayment of principals. That is 15 percent of CDB’s SDF loans to SDF countries. The country has also received a total of $35M of grant funds or 11 percent of all SDF grant resources approved to CDB borrowing member countries, which was allocated to the BNTF. Added to the US$6.IM, Guyana is contributing some $1M in counterpart resources; bringing the seventh cycle funding to US$7.1M. The country is also receiving 12 percent of the CDB’s BNTF seventh allocation of US$51.7M. Smith described the Guyana- CDB relationship as being very successful, but not as satisfying as the BNTF partnership. “We like to say that this is our flagship programme that directs poverty reduction because it positively impacts people’s lives.” Smith further noted that the moneys to Guyana demonstrate the high priority
placed on helping the country make great strides in social development, “even as your economic performance leads the rest of the Caribbean,” he flattered. The CDB president further noted the satisfaction of increased and improved development of IT labs across the country, while noting that high priority will be placed on citizen security programmes, and environmental enhancement for increased investments in the country. Emphasis on building resilience to natural hazards will also become visible in the new phase of the BNTF. As a request for value for money demanded by citizens, Smith said, the parties involved must guarantee this. “The tax payers providing these funds are insisting on value for money as they put it. We must be able to demonstrate that we have used our resources well. The president said the BNTF is a people-centred, people-driven programme. Don’t wait for your ship to come, swim out to it,” he urged.
UNASUR confronts... From page 15 of the South American countries. The bank began operations with a working capital of US$7 billion in Caracas where it held its first operational meeting and called on more nations in the wider Latin American and Caribbean region to join the initiative. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Venezuela, was attended by representatives of six of the seven Bank of the South member states – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay and
Venezuela. In the understandable absence of Paraguay, the representatives discussed the bank’s structure, a timetable for capital contributions from member states, and the process of appointing directorships. Surely, all these positive aspects demonstrate that the member states of the continental bloc are determined to cement the integration process. No doubt, along the way hurdles based on disagreements over political action and internal policies by individual member
states and their leaders will arise from time to time, but sober discussions over these matters between leaders at the bilateral level have a way to offset any temporary discord. [Dr. Odeen Ishmael is Guyana’s ambassador to Kuwait and Qatar. He writes extensively on Latin American and Caribbean issues and is the author of several books including The Democracy Perspective in the Americas and The Guyana Story. The views expressed here are solely his own.]
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PM proposes overhaul of Venezuelan President Nicolas regional education system Maduro is to visit TT next month CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC - Prime Minister Kenny Anthony is proposing major changes to the regional educational system in order to reduce the growing problem of unemployment among young people. He made the recommendations in an address to over 150 youth attending a regional conference hosted by the Caribbean Youth Empowerment Programme which highlights challenges facing youth at risk in the region, at a three day conference yesterday. Anthony contends that training is not the sole responsibility of the state and cited the need to make better use of the available learning institutions. He called for targeted interventions to help young
Kenny Anthony people in the acqusition of skills that combine training with employment. “As far as I am concerned if students stay in school longer, perhaps an additional two years in post secondary school education, then the employment rate would most
likely decline,” he suggested. The Prime Minister lamented that there were hundreds of under-skilled school drop outs, who cannot obtain gainful employment. In this regard he outlined changes to be i m p l e m e n ted in the education system and called for more accountability from the learning institutions. “We must not be afraid of change in the education system: curriculum, technology and the delivery of technology cannot simply remain stagnant.There must be a new level of accountability, expected from the schools and agencies charged with administering the delivery of education. There must also be a willingness to experiment in areas where we continue to record failures.”
Trinidad Guardian Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is to visit TT next month. Maduro’s visit will be part of the 34th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM. From July 3, PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar will host Maduro, as well as Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic and Teodoro Obiang Nguema, President of Equatorial Guinea. “President Maduro’s visit is important in the context of the region’s relations with Venezuela—an important player in hemispheric affairs,” said a statement from acting
Communications Minister Anil Roberts. Maduro is to visit on July 6, one day after Venezuela celebrates Independence Day. The Venezuelan Declaration of Independence was signed on July 5, 1811. Among other dignitaries to attend are fourteen heads of government of CARICOM member states and five heads from the associate members, as well as the heads of regional and international organisations. The CARICOM meeting coincides with the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. The then Heads of Government of the
I n d e p e n d e n t Commonwealth Caribbean Countries signed the Treaty on July 4th 1973 at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre. On July 4th, there will be a reenactment of the signing. Among the speakers at the opening of the conference on July 3rd is Michel Martelly, President of the Republic of Haiti. The Conference will end with a farewell dinner at the Diplomatic Centre on the evening of July 6. Persad-Bissessar will host a post-event press conference with Ambassador Irwin LaRoque, Secretary General of CARICOM.
Warner betrayed his constituents - UNC interim chairman Khadijah Ameen Trinidad Express - The constituents of Chaguanas West feel betrayed by their former Member of Parliament Jack Warner and will continue to support the United National Congress (UNC). This is according to UNC interim chairman Khadijah Ameen, who was one of the nominees screened on Tuesday night. The screening process for UNC nominees took place at the party’s Rienzi Complex, Couva, headquarters. Ameen, who earlier attended the party’s national executive meeting on Tuesday, left during the screening process and
returned at 9.20 p.m. with her supporters. Speaking with members of the media before the screening, Ameen said: “A large part of my region falls within the Chaguanas West seat. A part of my own district also falls within the Chaguanas West seat. The people of that area would have indicated that there are more things they want in terms of representation and I know they felt a little betrayed that their MP left them and, regardless of the situation, many of those people are very strong supporters of the United National Congress. I feel that the party owes it to them to
have a person who is loyal to the UNC as their representative. “I am a supporter of the United National Congress first of all and whether I am the candidate or not, I have a duty to the party to ensure that the people of Chaguanas West continue to get good representation. I am offering myself to the party. I know that there are people who support me but, at the end of the day, we support the United National Congress and we want to ensure that Chaguanas West continues to be a seat that is represented by the UNC, that is represented by the People’s Partnership Government in Parliament.”
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Turkey’s Erdogan seeks to Egyptian media tycoon investigated after criticism from Mursi further curb army power ANKARA (Reuters) Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s government, which faced a wave of street protests and riots this month, moved yesterday to amend an article of the Armed Forces charter cited by generals in the past to justify coups as defense of public order. Since he was first elected in 2002, Erdogan has radically cut back the power of a military that had toppled four governments in forty years. The last administration felled, in 1997, was led by an Islamist party to which Erdogan belonged.
Deputy prime minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters the government had submitted proposals to parliament to amend article 35 of the charter, promulgated after a 1960 coup that resulted in the hanging of a prime minister. Erdogan has cited that prime minister, Adnan Menderes, as a political model. The article was later used as the basis for interventions in 1970 and in 1980, to end months of left-right streetfighting, as well as 1997 when the army saw a danger from political Islam. The amendment would
replace the declared duty to “protect and watch over the republic” - a reference that for many Turks would imply strictly enforcing a secular order - with a more limited obligation to defend “the Turkish homeland against foreign threats”. Erdogan, who has won three elections and despite recent protests has no clear political rivals, denies accusations he seeks to overturn the 90-year-old secular order. But in speeches in recent weeks he has railed against what he sees as the oppression of pious Muslims under previous governments.
CAIRO (Reuters) - The owner of an Egyptian TV channel that satirizes the Islamist president was accused of tax evasion and banned from leaving the country yesterday, hours after Mohamed Mursi attacked him by name in a keynote speech. “This is dictatorship,” a lawyer for business tycoon Mohamed al-Amin told Reuters. Amin’s CBC channel has had legal run-ins before over its ridicule of President Mursi on a hit satirical program modeled on American comic Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show”. Stewart appeared in person just last week as a guest of Bassem Youssef, the host of the weekly broadcast,
who himself has been investigated for insulting the president and Islam. In an address to the nation on Wednesday to defend himself against opponents who plan mass rallies this weekend, Mursi blamed loyalists of fallen dictator Hosni Mubarak for thwarting his first year in office. He denounced several figures by name, including judges and owners of media organizations. “Some dream of the return of the old regime, like Mohamed al-Amin,” Mursi said. “They will not be left in peace until they pay what they owe the nation in taxes.” Hours later, Amin, who also owns anti-government newspaper Elwatan, called in
to a CBC show to deny any wrongdoing. State news agency MENA said prosecutors had blocked Amin’s movements while it probed suspected tax arrears of about $60 million. Officials were not immediately available for comment. His lawyer Mohamed Hammouda called the legal move an attempt to “get him and get the CBC channel and Elwatan newspaper and force them to bend to the president’s will”. He said he would seek to get the travel ban lifted and would sue Mursi for defamation. “This is dictatorship of a kind Egypt has never seen before,” lawyer Hammouda said.
(Reuters) - A former treasurer for Spain’s ruling People’s Party was sent to jail without bail yesterday as the High Court continues a pre-trial investigation into corruption charges against him. Examining Magistrate Pablo Ruz wrote in his order that Luis Barcenas who worked for the People’s Party for almost three decades, mostly in the accounting department - was a flight risk due to the serious charges he faces and the amount of money he has in offshore accounts. Barcenas is the central figure in two major corruption scandals that have damaged the credibility of the ruling
party and angered Spaniards who are struggling with a deep recession and high unemployment. The 55-year-old is charged with money laundering, bribery, tax fraud and other crimes in R u z ’s long-running investigation into a group of businessmen who put on campaign rallies and other events for the People’s Party in exchange for kickbacks. Ruz wrote in his 24-
page order that he has unearthed more than 48 million euros in bank accounts linked to Barcenas in Switzerland and other countries. Barcenas has repeatedly said he is innocent and that his money came from legitimate business activities.
Obama jabs Russia, China on Spain ruling party ex-treasurer failure to extradite Snowden sent to jail in corruption case
(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said yesterday he would not start “wheeling and dealing” with China and Russia over a U.S. request to extradite former American spy agency contractor Edward Snowden. Obama, who appeared concerned that the case would overshadow a threecountry tour of Africa that he began in Senegal, also dismissed suggestions that the United States might try to intercept Snowden if he were allowed to depart Moscow by air. “No, I’m not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29year-old hacker,” he told a news conference in Dakar, a note of disdain in his voice. Snowden turned 30 last week. Obama said regular legal channels should suffice to handle the U.S. request that Snowden, who left Hong Kong for Moscow, be returned. Obama said he had not yet spoken to China’s President Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin about the issue. “I have not called President Xi personally or
President Putin personally and the reason is ... number one, I shouldn’t have to,” Obama said sharply. “Number two, we’ve got a whole lot of business that we do with China and Russia, and I’m not going to have one case of a suspect who we’re trying to extradite suddenly being elevated to the point where I’ve got to start doing wheeling and dealing and trading on a whole host of other issues,” he said. Snowden fled the United States to Hong Kong this month after leaking details of secret U.S. government surveillance programmes, then flew to Moscow on Sunday. He had been expected to fly on to Havana on Monday but did not board the aircraft. The American, who faces espionage charges in the United States and has asked Ecuador for political asylum, has not been seen since his arrival in Moscow. Russian officials said he remained in a transit area at Sheremetyevo airport. Snowden’s case has raised tensions between the
United States and both China and Russia. Yesterday, Beijing accused Washington of hypocrisy on the issue of cyber security. Obama’s remarks seemed calibrated to exert pressure without leading to lasting damage in ties with either country. Andy Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Centre, said Obama was trying to play down the Snowden saga and minimize the impact on the United States. “The more the administration can play it down, the more latitude they’ll have in the diplomatic arena to work out a deal for him,” he said. Obama predicted there would be a made-for-TV movie about the ongoing saga, but indicated that damage to U.S. interests was largely limited to revelations from Snowden’s initial leak.
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Letters... Where your views make the news
THE HYPOCRISY OF SOME ADVOCACY GROUPS DEAR EDITOR: The hypocrisy of some women’s right organization is just inexplicable. There is a certain domestic abuse advocacy group called the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) with members such as Anand Budram, Dianne Madray and Sukree Boodram who all and sundry would want to support since their mission is to provide a safe environment for individuals combat domestic violence. Noble objective indeed! No human being will have any problem with that since they are supposed to fight a plague called domestic violence in the Caribbean especially Guyana. What really bothers me is how these PPP satellites can choose to press some abusers and cut others much slack. Unfortunately the issue of domestic violence does not give us the latitude to pick and choose. This is not politics; this is life and death for the victims. In March 2013, when member of the AFC Charandass Persaud made disparaging remarks about a certain female doctor, Ms. Diane Madray, a CADVA member on her Facebook page claimed that she is “outraged and … certainly hope that the AFC executives apologise… as it is an attack on all women”. She was quite in order to demand an apology from Mr. Persaud to which he thoughtfully did soon after the transgression. Great work on that issue CADVA! But to my grave disappointment, today with photographic and documentary evidence at their disposal and an alleged accusation against Mr. Robeson Benn Jnr, the son of a Minister of the PPP Government for rape, physical and mental abuse of a country girl from Essequibo, this same CADVA issued a totally different statement. In this case this is worst by indescribable magnitudes; CADVA extends their “thoughts and prayers for Miss Vanisha Seenauth as she is attempting to recover physically and emotionally from the attack
by her alleged abuser, Robeson Benn Jr.” No outrage from Ms Madray or Ms Boodram or Mr. Budram; no demand for justice from these so called domestic abuse advocates, no firm condemnation of these alleged multiple acts of domestic terror against this young lady even though the picture of the victim is all over the world now with her “bloodshot eyes”. It really sickens my stomach when an organization takes funds from donors to do work in areas that the world really need help, but chooses to protect political godfathers when the oppressor and domestic terrorist is allegedly a son of one of their god fathers. Shame on CADVA! Further, I hear nothing from the PPPwomen’s arm the WPO, the AFC women’s arm the WFC, or the PNC women’s arm the WRSM. Where is Red Thread, the Rights of the Child Organisation, the Amerindian People’s Association, the Guyana Human Right Association and all these organizations that were set up to protect our women and those who had their rights violated? Where is Gail Teixeira, Indra Chandarpal, Cathy Hughes, Debra Backer and all these women? What happen to the new charm of the PPP and newly minted President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Ms Vindya Persaud? What happened to First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar? Has women’s right fallen off the map for them because the alleged perpetrator is one of their own? How can I respect them ever again? Guyana is really a sad place when these princelings of the PPP can pull gun, break people’s limbs and now they have moved into a different zone with these allegation of rape and brutalization of an extreme magnitude. But what is worst is the hypocrisy from the established women right’s group on this issue. This child could have been by daughter. Shame on you women of Guyana! Munish Jayaram
Disgust and frustration DEAR EDITOR, It is with great disgust and frustration that I write this letter to let the relevant authorities know how fed up I am reporting and writing letters to them. I am a resident of Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt. This neighbourhood was a peaceful and quiet place„ until a business carrying the name ‘The Garage’ opened doors some months ago on the reserved land.
I wrote, along with other residents, several letters to the East La Penitence Police Station also the Ministry of Home Affairs several letters of complaints, but to no avail, no one seems to care about the people in this area and its surrounding. This place is playing very loud music every night. When the weekend comes the music gets even louder and goes until about four hours (4:00 a.m.) . Imagine, the mu-
sic is so loud that the windows on my house vibrate. They sometimes have shows there, where the patrons even park their vehicles blocking vehicles at my premises. Also the road is impassable when vehicles are parked on both sides of the road. This situation is very much overbearing. I do not know where else to turn for some relief from this situation. I am so fed up. Concerned resident
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Past students honour Ms Shirley Jordan
F
ormer English teacher of the Queenstown Community High School, Shirley Jordan, was on Wednesday honoured by several of her past students on her 89th birthday. At her home at lot 77 Canje Street, Section ‘K’ Campbellville, five members of the old school society brought a number of gifts, including a cake, in honour of the impact Ms Jordan made in their lives. Kaieteur News understands that some of her past students include Attorney Nigel Anthony, Singer Clinton Adolphus, better known as “Passion”, Playwright Fitzroy Tyrell and former national cricketer Lennox Cush. In remembering the “very stern” teacher, former head prefect of the school and member of the
committee, Ann Marie Blanchard, remembered that Ms Jordan was uncompromising when it came to her homework and studies. “She never made jokes when it came to her work and she always pushed us to succeed,” Blanchard said. She added that Ms Jordan made Bible study a “priority” when it came to her students. “She used to sort out who are regulars and who don’t come.” Another student, Robert Hubbard, remembers being whipped a number of times, but said that although those experiences were painful, Ms Jordan played a pivotal role in his life when it came to English Language. When the former students were asked about the corporal punishment they faced when they were children, they said that although they were corrected
by a rod, they grew to become productive citizens in society “and nothing happened to us”. The members told this publication that when the committee was formed about a year ago, the aim was to give back to the school
Friday June 28, 2013
Ms Jordan flanked by some of her former students.
which moulded them for the real world. “We learned that Ms Jordan was still around from the current Deputy Head Mistress, so we all came together and decided to honour her,” Blanchard said. Apart from the presentation, the school will receive a new photocopying machine. Phyllis Jordan, one of Ms Jordan’s four children, said
that her mother suffers from memory loss but still can recap most of her past. She also remembers faces. Jordan added that during her childhood, her mother stayed home and took care of her siblings. The woman added that although her mother was met with the obstacle that she wanted to be a career woman and her father opposed, she still strived for what she
loved, which was teaching. A n o t h e r d a u g h t e r, Eleanor Jordan, said that she was home-schooled by her mother until she was seven years old. The woman added that she “begged” to go to school, but her mother preferred to school her and siblings at home. Both of the sisters attended The Bishops’ High School which was at the time, an all-girls school.
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Internal probe to commence Monday
GPHC Maternal death... - Administrator
E
ven as the Expert Committee appointed by Cabinet, along with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), continues to peruse a report from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) into a recent maternal death there, an internal investigation is set to commence. This is according to Hospital Administrator, Michael Khan, who during an interview with this publication yesterday disclosed that a thorough internal probe into the death of 28-year-old Luan Rodney will commence on Monday. This investigation is being done with a view of ascertaining culpability of the death. Rodney was admitted to the Hospital on June 3, last, to deliver her second d a u g h t e r, b u t b y t h e following morning she was pronounced dead. Reports are that her baby was delivered stillborn, hours after a pill was inserted into her to induce labour. There are reports that there was negligence on the part of nurses who were manning the hospital in the wee hours of the morning when Rodney went into labour. It was revealed that a patient in the same ward had observed that the now dead woman was in labour and informed a nurse who allegedly disregarded at
least two calls for help. This publication was told that it was not until Rodney had started bleeding that the nurse took action. A few weeks ago, the public hospital had fulfilled its obligation to complete a report into the death which was formally handed over to the CMO’s office and brought to the attention of the Expert Committee. Khan confirmed yesterday that b a s e d o n t h e recommendations of the Committee, two doctors as well as two nurses were sent on administrative leave. He further highlighted that although it is always a sad situation when someone dies, “I can tell you honestly this (Luan Rodney’s death) is the first direct maternal death we have had for the year. It was a sad incident, but it just shows that we have improved...This is the first death in six months,” the Administrator asserted. He disclosed that another maternal death from Region One actually “wasn’t our case because that patient came in, in a very bad way, and another two maternal cases we could have done nothing to prevent them from dying.” Moreover, Khan said that it is only fair that the medical staffers of the hospital are complimented, because they have worked very well to make the facility a better place. He however emphasised that there is
always need for continued training and close supervision, but noted that “our systems are functioning.” And as preparations are made for the hospital’s internal investigation, Khan said that he along with the Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr Madan Rambaran, and the Director of Nursing Services, Sister Audrey Corry, will today meet with
GPHC Administrator, Michael Khan
Luan Rodney
husband of the deceased, Nigel Rodney. Rodney who buried his wife and baby daughter on June 10, last, has on several occasions complained about the lack of information from the hospital relating to the deaths. In fact he was told that post mortem examinations conducted were inconclusive. But according to Khan, as part of the hospital’s effort to show support to the widower, he will be duly informed of the progress of the investigation.
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Simona Broomes (stooping) poses with members of the GWMO
Women miners’ group reinforces quest to address human trafficking F
ollowing recognition by the United States for their quest in fighting human trafficking, members of the G u y a n a Wo m e n M i n e r s ’ Organisation (GWMO) are now determined to up their level of work and hope to collaborate with the Government in their operations. Simona Broomes, President of the organisation, was recently honoured by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, as a 2013 antiTrafficking in Person (TIP) Hero after being invited to participate in an International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) held in the United States. At a press briefing, yesterday,
held at the organisation’s office, Broomes related to media operatives the group’s readiness in implementing specific measures in addressing human trafficking in Guyana as it is being addressed in the US. Broomes noted that in the US, instances of trafficking are carefully studied. She said that police that deal with human trafficking, Court prosecutors and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are specially trained in their various capacities to address the cases and to deal with victims - training that she believes the Government of Guyana should “tap in on”. Broomes added that she witnessed the US Government
working along with churches and NGOs as a team, “bringing great successes.” She expressed her willingness to work with the Government, NGOs and churches in Guyana to bring about similar outcomes. According to Broomes, Guyana was listed as one of the countries that refuse to press the fight against modern-day slavery, a stance advised to be deserving of sanctions. Nevertheless, the GWMO President is optimistic that Guyana’s Government and its people will make a change, something she believes will be accomplished only if all Guyanese play a part.
“It is not time to bury our heads in the sand. It is time to look at Trafficking in Persons as a serious crime and deal with it.” Together with bringing to justice those responsible for committing the crime, the GWMO is hopeful for improved provisions for the victims. As has been a goal by the group in the earlier days of establishment, they are still calling on donors to establish a home for girls who have been exploited. According to Broomes, the organisation is going to make “a special zone” in to the President, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Human Services. “I am going to ensure that I
meet with the Government at every level and to share with them some of the things that I’ve learnt… I am here to appeal to the Government to move this fight with modern-day slavery in Guyana,” she said. She said that their next move as a group is to reach out to anyone that is in a position to enforce changes, “from the President right down”. Additionally, as President of the Group, Broomes will be hosting workshops for members aimed at strengthening the unit. The workshop will include equipping members to identify victims, take statements and training to deal with other aspects of TIP offences. (Tiffanne Ramphal)
Ramsammy lauds New GPC’s role in CPL - says owner demonstrated vision, courage
A
griculture Minister, Dr. L e s l i e Ramsammy, has lauded the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (New GPC)’s acquisition of the Guyana franchise of the first-ever Caribbean Premier League (CPL). According to Dr Ramsammy, the company’s owner, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop “continues to demonstrate vision and courage in investing his resources. His success in bidding for the Guyana franchise and in bidding for the CPL sponsorship must be commended and be seen as a Guyanese success story.” “I know Bobby Ramroop does not look out
for recognition. But his success brings pride to Guyana and to all of us. As a citizen of Guyana and as one who holds high office in my country, I am extremely proud that a local company will be on the big stage. In some ways, this success is demonstrative of the far way we have developed as a country and being able to compete with the big businesses of the Caribbean,” Ramsammy expressed in a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. The New GPC has been under scrutiny by the National Assembly for its multi-million-dollar awards of contracts to supply government with pharmaceuticals.
The company was recently announced as the overall sponsor of the competition. Dr Ramroop, who has long been known as former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s best friend, will now pay all the match fees, all the Man of the Match awards, and more than anything else, will control the broadcast rights throughout the region and further afield. The CPL will now be known as the Limacol CPL, said the announcers of the expanded role Dr Ramroop’s company is playing in the competition. T h e N e w G P C ’s sponsorship is a multi-year agreement which will affect all aspects of the tournament, from branding
and uniforms to advertising, marketing and promotions. New GPC is also the franchise owner for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Regarding questions over the moneys being paid by New GPC - a closely guarded secret - the Agriculture Minister was puzzled why a small group in Guyana would want to “wish that Dr. Ramroop and the New GPC fail and end up like Stanford”. Allen Stanford was a US billionaire based in Antigua who brought popularity to the T20 cricket match by doling out millions in fees to cricketers in the region. However, he was jailed in the US as investigators found he was operating a Ponzi-like scheme with
Agri Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop
investors, causing thousands to lose their savings in the region. “It is interesting to note that the few who would cast aspersions on the success of the New GPC in being at the very top of making CPL a reality, themselves did not find it possible to try to be a part of the CPL and to be part
of the pride that cricket bestows on this nation and on the Region. I believe that all Guyana should stand behind Dr. Bobby Ramroop and the New GPC and behind CPL.” CPL matches are scheduled between July 29 and August 26 this year and are to be played between six teams.
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Friday June 28, 2013
Four years to ‘fix’ sugar industry By Leonard Gildarie In what is being regarded as a compromise, Europe the country’s biggest bulk sugar customer - has agreed to end the quota system by 2017, giving Guyana just four years to fix the industry. The decision was taken Wednesday during a critical meeting of the European Parliament, the EU Council of Ministers and the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. It means that the forum would have disagreed with a January decision in which the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development voted to extend the sugar quotas, for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, to 2020. Guyana is part of that ACP sugar-producing grouping that is affected. The sugar quota system stretched back to the 1970s. Previously, Europe had set 2015 as the deadline for ending the sugar quota system. According to a statement from Wednesday’s
…as EU to end quota system in 2017
The EU has decided that 2017 is the deadline for ending its sugar quota.
meeting, sugar quotas “will be abolished by 2017, and the organisation of the sugar sector will be strengthened on the basis of contracts and mandatory interprofessional agreements.” According to sugar
officials in Guyana yesterday, the decision will mean that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and Government will have to find their own market and negotiate prices, after September 30, 2017.
Currently, Guyana has a 190,000-tonne sugar quota to Europe, but has been finding it hard to meet, as production fell steadily over recent years. Last year was the worst in terms of production since the ruling party took power a little over 20 years ago. Wednesday’s meeting has been deeply worrying to sugar-producing countries which depend on Europe’s protected market. Prior to that meeting, the ACP countries warned that there would be market instability and acute risks to developing economies, if Europe stuck with its 2015 deadline. The ACP sugarproducing states include Barbados, Belize, Republic of Congo, Fiji, Guyana, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Jamaica, Kenya, M a d a g a s c a r, M a l a w i , Mauritius, Mozambique, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, S w a z i l a n d , Ta n z a n i a , Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The EU meeting on
Wednesday was to reach an agreement on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), post-2013. EU’S JOBS According to a statement from the meeting, Europe was convinced that the agreement will lead to farreaching changes in its policies. “These decisions represent the EU’s strong response to the challenges of food safety, climate change, growth and jobs in rural areas. The CAP will play a key part in achieving the overall objective of promoting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”, said Dacian Cioloº, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. Many of the member states of EU, including Spain and Greece, have been facing severe financial problems, forcing the union to take cost-cutting measures. Europe, since announcing plans to break
the quota system and an accumulative 37% price cut, had been releasing moneys targeting projects that will make sugar industries of the ACP countries more sustainable. Last week, EU signed off on a Euro 23.355M financing agreement, making it around Euro 115M that the country would have received to help GuySuCo recover. The 37% price – starting seven years ago – had threatened to shut factories down in Guyana, but government had decided to bank its money on the industry, saying that too much was at stake. Several Caribbean countries, including St. Kitts, have pulled out of sugar. Initially, the EU moneys targeted specific sugar projects to improve efficiency, but the EU has started disbursing to the government itself. NO WAY OUT The US$12.5M Enmore Sugar Packaging Plant is one of the projects. The Opposition has been critical of the disbursements, saying that government is to be faulted for the state of the industry, as it did not use the EU funds to bolster the operations of GuySuCo. The EU has warned that conditions are in place to ensure the moneys go towards the sugar industry. These include areas of mechanisation, conversion of lands, drainage and other support for private farmers. Guyana is expected to collect a similar tranche next year, the last of the support. This particular amount is for the 2012-2013 period. It is estimated that more than 115,000 persons rely on the sugar industry for their livelihood, whether as GuySuCo employees, private cane growers, suppliers or service providers, as well as their respective dependents. Sugar is among the top three export earners for the country, with prices better in the last two years or so, an ironic situation when production was falling. The government has admitted that its US$200M Skeldon factory modernization has failed to jumpstart the industry after suffering several technical problems. Recently, President Donald Ramotar called on workers and unions to help pull the industry back to sustainable levels, even offering lands in a cooperative deal.
Friday June 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
GPHC graduates inaugural batch of Critical Care Nurses
E
ven as it awaits accreditation from the General Nursing Council for its Critical Care Nursing Programme, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday graduated 17 Registered Nurses who made up the inaugural batch. The 15-month long programme, which is the brainchild of Assistant Director of the Nursing S er v ices , O w en J o h n , commenced on July 25, 2011, and not only sought to boost the ethical skills of the nurses, but also entailed modules that dealt with care for patients with cardiovascular, pulmonary and neurological disorders, among others. Courses were delivered on a voluntary basis by experienced and qualified Critical Care Nurses from the United States and catered mainly to nurses tasked with attending to patients in the Intensive Care Unit. The initiation of the programme, according to John, was premised on expressed concerns that despite the best efforts of nurses assigned to the Unit, quality of care delivered would not improve significantly unless appropriate training was given to the nurses assigned to the Unit. But John yesterday expressed disappointment that the programme although thorough, in terms of its content, was not accredited by the Nursing Council. He disclosed too that no reason was offered as to why the programme was not accredited. The Assistant Director of Nursing explained that without accreditation from the Nursing Council, the graduated nurses will not be in a position to lobby for
promotions or even higher salaries with their added knowledge. H o w e v e r, t h e programme was yesterday lauded by senior hospital officials including Administrator of the Hospital, Michael Khan, and Director of Nursing Services, Sister Audrey Corry, during a graduation ceremony held at the hospital’s Multi-Purpose Room. In sharing her views about the non-accreditation status of the programme, Sister Corry noted that “I would not say that we have f a i l e d t o g a i n accreditation...What I am saying is that we have not yet gained accreditation...We are working on it. I am not seeing failure; we have only just started this programme.” Her optimism was based on the fact that there were a number of other programmes that the Nursing Council had taken some time in approving. “Some of you will know that when we did the Anaesthesia programme years ago it took us quite some time, probably about four or five years before we were able to get that programme approved by the Council and at that time we did say that any specialised programme for nurses was going to be easier to accredit, because we were laying the foundation at the time for other programmes.” Moreover, the programme was dubbed one of the extended programmes catering to nurses with extended roles, a proposal that was taken to the Nursing Council in hopes that it would be embraced and allow for easy accreditation passage for future programmes. “We are still having some difficulties because there are
The inaugural batch of the Critical Care Nursing programme
some things that we need to clear up, but I am confident that those things will be cleared and we will be able to get that programme accredited in a short time,” Sister Corry said. Nevertheless, yesterday was regarded a “very proud day” by the hospital Administrator, who appealed to the nurses to “put the skills learnt and knowledge gained to good stead.” Among those who graduated yesterday were Shaunette Abrams, Adunee, Archer Ramlall, Latoya Charles, Shinelle Higgins, Kuburat Onasanya, Nalini Persaud, Melinda Persaud, and Diana Sutton of the GPHC. Also graduating yesterday were Sandra Badley and Abiola King of the Linden Hospital Complex; Melissa Castello and Christabelle Fitzpatrick of the St Joseph Mercy Hospital; Trichelle Fraser and Basmattie Salim of the Suddie Hospital and Georgianna Jones, Devon Mc Lennon and Melinda Patterson of the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
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Kaieteur News
WANTED One qualified Cook, for East Bank area- call:614-4358 Live In Live Out Babysitter Domestic - Call: 225-6070 Receptionist- Call:225-3234
WANTED Cashier/ sales girls at Nirva’s: 49 Sheriff street: Apply in person- Call:227-5771 Contract Cars Wanted: City Taxi Service- Call:660-1100
Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665
Urgently Needed: 1 Captain for Vessel, must have Captain License & 2 years experience in Guyana & Venezuela waters- Contact: 699-1220/ 658-6548
Experience taxi- minibus drivers and dispatchers at Princess Hotel Contact:6165419, 265-7076
Cashier/ sales girls at Sachi’s: 136 Regent street: Apply in person- Call:2272472
One live-in or live out maidcall:668-3985/264-3355/6837936
1 Sales clerk with knowledge of Microsoft excel & Sales representative @ Marcos Trading- Contact: 225-944511 North road Lacytown.
Office Clerk: CXC English/ Mathematics- Call:225-0188/ 225-6070
One female general worker to work shift in Parafaite Harmonie call:668-0306, 6947817 West Site Taxi service: Wanted experience dispatcher & contract carscall:613-0419/ 600-0699 One live in domestic very good accommodation rates, light duties call:227-1830 1 Handy-boy to work: Living accommodation free- call: 228-5655/628-1756 Security Guards to work in the Interior: Previous Interior experiences would be an asset- Call: 226-9768 (between 8am-5pm) One domestic between 25-35 years, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 4pm. Call: 227-7355 / 615-2483
Live- in domestic must know to cook & live-in waitress 1825yrs: $50,000 monthly. Boarding & lodging freeTele:610-5043
Experienced Taxi Driverscall:667-9013/ 627-9424 Live in waitress- Call:6439007/ 697-2978
FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY M E R C U R Y (QUICK SILVER) 9 9 . 9 9 9 9 5 % PURITY - $20,000 PER POUND CALL:604-6108
Cannon IR400 Photocopiers Call:649-0956
Toyota RZ, BMM 3828 $1.6M- Call:679-3168
One 7 weeks male pure breed German Shepherd pupCall:638-5778
Toyota Fielder $2.1M, Premio $2.6M, Axio $2.9M: Vehicles fully loaded & unregisteredcall: 617-2891
1 RZ long base bus, PGG: Good condition $600,000 (negotiable)- Call:667-6312/ 667-8410
Asphalt Roofing Shinglescall:266-2711/609-4594 15-15-15 Fertilizer in damaged bags, large quantity available- call: 266-2711/609-4594 500 Ton Cargo Ship with Contract- call: 687-6174 Pig feed, Duck feed & Shrimp meal- call:266-2711/ 609-4594 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943
Workers at Wash Bay in Town, male & female- Call: 669-4676 Nanny wanted, preferably from Georgetown or E.C.DContact cell: 693-4075
Male Enhancement Viagra: 4 in a Pack For $3000- Call: 642-6664/ 638-1627
Cashier, 25-35 years: Salary $12,000 weekly: Fabric World @ 140 Regent & Light street with written application & CV
1x1 galvanized angle, galvanized gutter, filing cabinet, 10" cast iron wheel call: 627-7835
One experienced driver, gear & automatic: Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with application, 5 Commerce Street
1- 10 RB Dragline, 1- F150 Ford Truck- Call: 687-6174
Urgently needed, land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie- Call: 675-7292
Nail Plates & Anchor Seal: 4×6, 3×6, 4×8- Call: 265-3541/ 695-4785
Fluffy pups call: (Home) 2225671, cell: 641-6162
Sheep for sale- call:695-6139 Pure Bred Rottweiler puppies; Romel: 653-6281 CRV PMM series call:6925460 Strong Tables & ChairsCall: 650-2391 Dell laptops & desktops complete computers from $55,000 Futuretech. Call: 2312206 Fluffy Dashund PuppiesCall:666-5199/ 669-8421 1 PS3 for sale: $105,000 negotiable: 5 free gamesCall:682-0940 1 Chicken Farm (8 acres): 5 Pens (capacity 30,000 birds) with own water source and other amenities @ LaluniCall:611-8049 Sale! Sale! Blow Out Sale At Aaliyah’s Cheap Shop: Lot 4 Cove & John, E.C.DCall:664-2209 On Saturdays & Sundays items as low as $100: Sale starts from 6am to 6pm- Call: 664-2209 Empty Fuel Barrels (50 gal)Contact Nicky on 226-7948/ 646-6000/ 697-9610 Daschund mixed with Pekingese pups six weeks old $15,000- Call:677-2476
One blue female pitbull puppy; Vaccinated and ears cropped- call: 692-3329 LEARN TO DRIVE B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield Lodge- call:2250150,229-7258,680-6826 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166, 622-2872, 615-0964
Beds, Dining Table, Cabinets, Wall Divider, Wardrobe, Clothes Dryer, Sofas. Call:219-3732 (After 5pm) Used Massey Tractors- MF 165, 175, 275, 1100, 1130, Ford 5000, Yanmar Vegetable Tractors: Affordable PricesCall: 675-9314 6" & 8" Flood control pump with engine, tool sets, ploughs, chippers, slasher, massey ferguson loaderCall:675-9314
The Gent’s spa: Come be pampered by beautiful sophisticated masseuses four hands special- Call:6575979
2- 2008 Toyota Premio TV/ DVD & push button start, 2006 BMW 320i- Tele:6154114 Lexus, Pitbull never registered- Call:655-0800/ 263-5300
RZ mini-buses BMM & BNN series, AT192, 212, AT170, Tacoma, Canters, NZE & cheap cars- call:680-3154
One 4×4 Toyota: 3VZ engine, GFF series $600,000- Call:6773520/ 689-4483
Massey Ferguson 6140: 4×4 Turbo: $3.2M negotiableCall: 688-6274 or 691-3851
2- 07 Toyota AvensisCall:698-0674 Toyota 4 Runner Jeep: 3000cc: Black & Grey, left hand drive $1.2M- Call:6742586 1 Toyota Land-cruiser Prado PMM series- call:225-0188/ 225-6070
Santa Mission, Capoey Lake, Marshall Rapids 30th – 1st July, Joy: 2181285, 649-9059, 692-3114
Honda ATV 500 4×4: New $2.6M- Call: 624-5000
CAR RENTAL Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Progressive Auto Rental - cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email www. progressive autorental. com
Toyota Hilux 4×4, A/C, auto, leather seats, 3RZ engine: Asking $2.7M- Call:225-0398/ 623-1299/ 658-5097 1 Model M bush Truck 4x4 with winch GRR series Tele:226-9492 or 226-9485 office hours
155 Leyland DAF excellent working condition: Price $3.5M (negotiable)Call:656-8346
1 Mercedes Benz C200: PNN 6967- Call:680-4990/ 2773033
1 F150 (Ford) XLT fully loaded: In Excellent condition - Call: 690-6520/ 642-0110
1 RZ Toyota EFI, HH series: Good working condition: Price $775,000 (negotiable): Small Canter $325,000: Working condition- Call:6906327
TOURS
1 Leyland DAF 620 truck with lots of parts, DEF spring bottom-half, welding generator- Call:654-3488
2 Ford F150: Price $4.5M & $3.5M- Call: 643-5249 / 2654979
Natural beauty salon & spa: Grove Market Street EBD tele:265-4138,652-5800 specialized in everything for women & children
1 Flock sheep, goats and flock Rams- Call:696-8103
Toyota Fielder (2004): PMM series: Excellent condition: Silver blue exterior/ dark cloth interior: $2.5M negotiable- Call:266-5283
Unregistered To y o t a Sienta 7 seats: 1500cc- Call: 617-5536
Shop your car online for the original price through D.North Auto Sales and save big- call:663-0584
Pure Bred Rottweiler puppies Call: 227-0828, 604-7105
Unregistered Solid Def Hilux2005 Raum $2.150,000; Dump Truck $2.3m- Call: 227-1737/6411800: Annadale Public road
1 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 – 1997; $1.6 million; not registered Phone:265-2103, 611-0674
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
Relax $2500, colour $2000, finger tips $2200, toes $600, pedicure $2500, facial $2500Call:225-8701/622-2643
We buy & sell vehicles for cash & we do trading-in of vehicles: 30 Seater Busescall:680-3154
1997 Ford F350 Canter truck: 14 feet enclosed box with glass case & food warmersCall: 641-4708/ 612-9999
Toyota IST PLL 7683- Call: 639-9553
1- Xbox 360 video Game, 1PS3 Video Game, 1- A/C unit 12000 BTU- Call: 661-3128 MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:609-4036
2000 Tundra 4×4 3.4L V6 excellent condition: black with off-road package- call: 651-6050
Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Allion, IST, Premio, one registered ISTCall: 652-3820/ 665-4529
Promix starting at $7,500, green formula (growing mix)Call: 615-2346/263-5300
Diesel Mechanics: To work in the Interior: Knowledge of excavators and Perkins engines an asset. Call:2269768 Hairdresser must know to cut all styles with nail designing experience: Ruimzeight W.C.D.Call: 2691525/ 656-3561
FOR SALE
R o t t w e i l e r, B r a z i l i a n , German Shepherd puppies: Hunting dogs (Pointers) fully vaccinated- Call: 6822148/655-8674 Electric Snow cone machines- call: 266-2711/ 609-4594
Cooks, 64 High Street, Kingston Nacie building opposite Digicel call:2261019 Mangers to work in the Interior on Land Dredges: Mining Firm has own excavators & bulldozers. Call: 226-9768/ 629-0037
Friday June 28, 2013
1 Toyota Raum (Black) with body kit, rims, low mileage, first owner, late PKK Price:$1.4M negotiable call: 628-8799 RZ minibus: High BKK series $760,000- Call:613-1810/ 6972550
CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, Call: 670-0798. Also Wedding dresses for sale Courses for: Bridal accessories, Cake decoration, Floral arrangements, Cake & Pastry-contact Sharon:6728768/223-3303 (Continued on page 37)
Friday June 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 28, 2013
Friday June 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views
Regional Rep. fails to fulfill road agreements DEAR EDITOR, On September 3, 2012, bus drivers who operate in front of the Bartica market to Five Miles Potaro Road commenced strike action over the shoddy condition of the Potaro Road. This road caused damage to their buses. It represented the yearly wastage of taxpayers’ money. On September 5, 2012 the strike continued in the form of picket in front of the Regional Democratic Office (RDC). The protesters were joined by a number of bus owners, other road users and residents of Bartica who gave their full support. The picket and strike action led to the establishment of a four-member delegation headed by me. It included members of the United Mini us Union, Bartica branch. The Regional team was comprise of the persons as follows, Mr. Naeem Mohamed -Hinterland Engineer, Mr. Gordon Bradford-Regional Chairman and Mr. Peter Ramotar -Regional Executive Officer. At the end of the negotiation on September 6, 2012 myself along with the other members of the delegation went outside of the Regional office were we met with the persons who were on strike and picket exercises to advise the gathering about the outcome of the negotiation and agreements reached. On Saturday June 8, 2013 a number of the residents who
live along the Potaro Road and other road users, among them bus owners, drivers and conductors, met with me in a very unhappy manner. Again they were unhappy with the state of the road that sparked the protest last year. They said that every year the government normally patch the Road and say that it fix. They spend millions of dollars. The Potaro Road is in worst condition than the trail from Bartica to Linden. Some of the bus owners want to increase the bus fare immediately. They want the United Minibus Union, to increase4 the fare from $40 to $60 for nursery school students; $60 to100 for primary school students, $100 to $200 for high school students and from $200 to $300 for adult. But the union is insisting that the fares remain stagnant. We just don’t want to increase the fare because we want more money. If anything it is because we are running our buses at a loss. All the money that we make is spent on repairs at the mechanic shop and spare parts shop. I propose to meet with the Regional Chairman Mr. Gordon Bradford, and Mr. Peter Ramotar -Regional Executive Officer with a letter reminding and insisted that they fulfill and honor all of the commitments consistent with all that were agreed upon last year. Micah Williams Bartica
A case of professionalism DEAR SIR/MADAM, Please allow me to express my profound gratitude to the doctors and nurses of the Anamayah Memorial and Balwant Singh Hospital for the special care they took of me during my recent illness. A lot has been said in the past about medical care in Guyana but I received nothing but the best treatment and care from both hospitals whose staff were of the highest professional standard. A special mention must be made of the nurses (male and female) at both hospitals who hailed from India. They were all very caring, attentive and professional. Every minor detail was done at highest possible standard and there was an unbelievable way of making you feel that everything was going to be okay despite personal doubts. For the rest of my life, I would be grateful to those dedicated medical personnel and special thanks to Dr. Bob and Dr,
Ry a n f r o m A n a m a y a h Memorial and Dr. Samal from Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital. Hilbert Foster.
LAND FOR SALE House lots 50’×118’ New Hope E.B.D: Negotiable prices. Call: 266-2711/ 6094594
LAND FOR SALE GARDEN EDEN, EBD ROADFRONT 45X80 LOTS $5M: RIVERFRONT 50X300 LOTS - ASKING $15M– CALL DEREK @ RLTPRO 592-650-1234 2 House Lots (39×150 & 38×150) $16M each: Blankenburg public road, W.C.D- Call:658-0132 Twelve House Lots in one block along Corriverton public road- Call:626-6245
VACANCY Vacancy exist for experience welders Apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek 24 hour East Coast Guyoil needs day & night pump attendants, sales girl, Experienced Fuel Tanker Driver Tele: 688-9611/ 684-2838 One Club/ Entertainment manager to work at a Hotel in Charity, Essequibo CoastCall:226-9768/ 642-7963
Vacancies: Security Officers, Drivers, Dispatchers: Apply Monday-Friday: Security Alliance Barrack street, Kingston (upstairs FedEx) 1 General domestic must know to prepare vegetarian meals: Apply @ Alabama Trading Ferry Stelling Stabroek, G/Town Vacancy exists for waitress & handyman: Apply in person @ Cool Square 537 West Ruimveldt- Call:226-7418 Salesboys, salesgirls and security guards: Apply @ Avinash Water streetCall:226-3361/ 227-7828 Engine Room Operator: Apply in person with written application @ Wieting & Richter Ltd. 10-13 Water street, Georgetown
Yarrowkabra- Call:672-3662 / 694-1440
Female Office Assistant: Sound Secondary education (Maths and English included) $19,000 weekly- Call:223-0595
Parafaite Harmonie - $1M; Schoon’ord -$2.4M; call :675-7292
Clerical Staff (Computer Literate), Graphic Artist, Gardener & Handyman: Apply to Risan’s @ 51 Main street, Georgetown
(From page 34)
Tuschen Housing SchemeCall: 692-3454/616-7632
1 Two Storey Business Property (Transported): Brickery Public Road, East Bank Demerara. Call: 660-8128 EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CLASSES: July 15th – August 15th: Phonics, Mathematics, Language, Spanish, Craft, Tours & Fun day: Garnett St. KittyCall:654-8650
SUMMER CLASSES: Phonics, Language, Mathematics, Art & Craft & Fun day: (4-12 years)- July 15th- August 15th: Roxanne Burnham: Call 619-4355/ 2182076 Get trained as a live-in Caregiver to live and work in Canada, under Canadian curriculum- Call:227-4881/ 416-674-7973
Moulder & wood mizer operators, porters, lumber clerk call Richard :609-7675, 233-2614 One security guard for day shift: West Side Shore Plaza public road Ruimzeight, W.C.DCall: 269-1525/ 656-3561
PROPERTY FOR SALE
1 Business Property at Bloomfield public rd, BerbiceCall: 690-6520/ 642-0110
Princeton College: CXC classes for day and evening students: Register for summer classes 5-18 yearscall:690-5008
2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968
Three Stories House on 1,500 acres of land. Call: 223-8479/ 647-3768: www.spaceseekgy
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 28, 2013
TITANS earn two World Junior Swim picks Julien became the first Trinidad and Tobago athlete to qualify for World Juniors when she swam 30.25 seconds in the 50m backstroke at the ASATT Invitational in December 2012. She had a phoenix-like rise to make this achievement after a difficult year which saw her out of competition for most of 2012 due to injury. Before this achievement of qualifying for the FINA World Junior Championships 2013, her career highlight was being a finalist in the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man. This native of San Fernando has established National and Regional Records in the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly during the course of her career. She has been the ASATT Swimmer of the Year for her age group for the period 2008 – 2011 and has a collection of regional medals of the gold hue.
Kristin Julien (L) and Jonathan Ramkissoon TITANS Swim Club of Trinidad and Tobago has celebrated another accomplishment as two of their young athletes have achieved their dream of qualifying for the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from August 26 – 31, 2013. Kristin Julien and Jonathan Ramkissoon are now two of only five qualifiers for these Games. Of the five
qualifiers, two athletes (Dylan Carter and Tyla Martin) are foreign based (USA), while the other is Joshua Romany of Areios Aquatechs. TITANS, which was formed via a merger of Tsunami Swim Club of San Fernando, and Centre of Excellence Sea Hawks Swim Club of Macoya, boasts of having the most qualifiers for every age group national team since its inception in November 2011.
Friday June 28, 2013 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): The only real problem that stands out today could in some way concern money. Even though you are diligently pursuing material and financial aims, progress will be slow. ******************************* TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): Recent difficulties and frustrations are brought to a head. A new page is about to be turned when you will see the final episode of a chapter which has provided you with some unforgettable moments. ******************************* GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): Today calls for you to think carefully about offers put to you; is someone trying to trick you? You know what you’re good at but an associate might try to persuade you into areas where you have no skill or experience. ******************************* CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): If you are working, friends and colleagues seem to be crowding round you asking for advice. ******************************* LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): ‘Though you feel confident about certain issues it can sometimes be hard to express your thoughts without sounding smug. ******************************* VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): You will be sensitive to experience gained through travel, learning or both today.
LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): Progress in some areas might seem to have come to a halt. Don’t lose confidence because of this. ******************************* SCORPIO (OCT 23 NOV 21): Someone close wants to do their own thing. Take a step back and give them an extra ******************************* SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21): Be prepared to wait if there is something you desperately want; new contracts will be agreed on eventually. Don’t let minor setbacks get you down. ******************************* CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): A calculated risk pays off as far as money is concerned. With regard to emotions, you would do better to keep feelings under control. Your imagination is working overtime. ******************************* AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): You won’t take kindly to anyone who tries to probe into your private life or question you about your decisions. Equally if someone objects to your plans and suggestions, you will find a way to proceed without their support. ******************************* PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): It would be a waste to limit yourself in one direction when the day has so much to offer. If something unexpected crops up, look on the good you can get out of the situation.
She trains at the south partner in TITANS, Tsunami Swim Club, under the tutelage of Coach Vincent Tardieu. Ramkissoon qualified for World Juniors just three weeks ago during the height of his Final Year CAPE II Examinations, during a reduced training regimen to cater for his academic studies. This Hillview College student became the first Trinidad and Tobago athlete Under-18 years of age to swim faster than 30 seconds in the 50m breaststroke LC, and the first male breaststroker to qualify for World Juniors since its inception in 2006. This St. Augustine native established his first National Record at National Age Group Long Course Championships in March 2013, lowered it during the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in April, and
lowered this record in June to qualify for Dubai. He is finishing his age group career without that elusive regional individual gold medal, but his World Juniors achievement far surpasses that precious metal. He is coached by Brian Wickham and Terry Ann Evelyn at Centre of Excellence Sea Hawks Swim Club, and immediately after Dubai, he will proceed to Canada to pursue a Bachelor ’s Degree in Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. President of TITANS Swim Club Jason Wickham praised the accomplishments of the two budding athletes. “Kristin and Jonathan are two fine athletes and young adults who continue to do their country proud. Kristin has had her injury challenges last year and she displayed great grit and determination
to overcome them and qualify for Worlds in her first attempt since injury. Jonathan is truly living a fairy tale. From the athlete who could not make the Goodwill Swim Team up to 2009 to an athlete who became the first male breaststroker to qualify for T & T since these World Juniors started in 2006. These athletes are two role models in our club and on the National Stage and we are proud of their achievement.” Julien will next compete for Trinidad and Tobago at the CCCAN Championships in Costa Rica, together with six other TITANS athletes – Jessie Changar, Rochelle Jackson, Amira Pilgrim, Justin Samlalsingh, Johnnya Ferdinand and Theana Hay. Wickham hopes to get the (Continued on page 39)
Friday June 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 39
PLANET PAINTBALL COMMITTED WI, Pakistan for TO GROWING SPORT IN GUYANA limited overs series By Edison Jefford It is sort of a sophisticated version of what we would colloquially call ‘war-break’ in Guyana but in this commercial edition players arm themselves with non-toxic paintball guns and literally try hunting each other in a ‘bunker-style’ setting. To say that Paintball is fun would be an understatement. It certainly encourages one to relive the childhood days when make-shift wooden guns or water-guns were used in ‘war break’ where the task was to find a hidden opponent. Planet Paintball Guyana (PPG) is the leading Paintball Sport Park operator in Guyana. Since the company began operations in August last year, the sport has been stretched across three facilities, including the National Insurance Scheme Ground on CARIFESTA Avenue, the Jackie Robertson Sports Ground on the East Coast (before UG road) and Dakota Park near the South Dakota Circuit on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway. Each venue represents a space for a different format of the game. The speedball
READY FOR BATTLE! Reona Cathro (right) and another paintball player get ready for battle in a Paintball match. format is played at the NIS Ground; the scenario format is played on the East Coast and the ‘woodsball’ format is played at the Dakota Park venue on the Highway. The founders of Planet Paintball Guyana, Chris and Reona Cathro, is committed to development of the sport, which is globally played and recognised through the National Paintball Professional League (NPPL) with 18 franchise teams in the United States of America. “Together the three PPG paintball parks mean that no matter what format of the
game you like it is available for you,” the dynamic duo told Kaieteur Sport. Admittedly, the Cathros come with a great deal of technical experience administering paintball. Chris Cathro, PPG Director of Operations, has been involved in the sport from its early days here in the mid ‘80s, garnering over 20 years of experience and knowledge in the discipline. He stated clearly that his role is ensuring player safety, value, and fun. Reona Cathro, PPG Chief Executive Officer and Chris’s
wife, is an entrepreneur, who has one of the most sophisticated roles of encouraging and maintaining corporate interest. Together, the duo believes that they are really on to a growing global phenomenon. “It is the mission of PPG to strive to ensure that the sport is continuously developed, evolves and improved in line with the very latest international trends and standards; we do not hesitate to sell paintball as the next big thing in sports in Guyana,” Reona noted. Planet Paintball has demonstrated and the game played at GuyExpo 2012, The National Schools’ Championships last year and Linden Town Week. Planet Paintball will host its first mega contest in July when it undertakes the Firestorm XBall Tournament. The World Ultimate Woodsball League appointed Planet Paintball the official ‘Ultimate League’ status in Guyana. With this appointment, Guyanese players can now play League and tournament games and receive an international player and team ranking among 180 countries.
Stag Beer / WDFA Senior League
Double header on tomorrow @ Den Amstel Competition in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Stag Beer sponsored senior league will continue tomorrow at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground with another double header. Uitvlugt Warriors, one of five teams locked on three
points will play their second game of the league when they take on the winless Wales Football Club in the feature game from 16:00hrs. The curtain raiser two hours earlier pits Stewartville FC which won their opening game, taking on Wales FC yet to get off the mark after two
Team Slingerz Bagotville/Nismes Seawall Young Achievers Uitvlugt Den Amstel Stewartville Jetty Gunners Beavers Eagles Dekendren Wales
P 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2
W 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
matches. No matches will be played on Sunday but the action will return on Monday when Seawall FC seeking to record back to back wins when they oppose Jetty Gunners in the main event from 16:00hrs. Jetty Gunners will be looking to register their first L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 2 2
D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GF 30 4 8 2 3 6 3 2 0 1 1 2
point after two losses. The opening match brings together Bagotville/Nismes and Beavers. The former has a perfect two from two while the latter team lost their opening game. Following is the latest points standings. GA 1 1 0 0 1 3 2 4 4 13 14 19
Points 9 6 3 3 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 0
TITANS earn two World Junior Swim... (From page 38) assistance of corporate Trinidad and Tobago to help TITANS athletes to attend these meets, especially those who have qualified for World Juniors. “Our club takes representation of Trinidad
and Tobago very seriously. Parents have been asked to make financial contributions for national teams and we have always encouraged them to look at Red White and Black and do this for their child and their country.
The trip to Dubai is an expensive one. World Juniors athletes Kristin and Jonathan have qualified with a time equivalent or faster than a 16th place time of the last Championships. This is a World Championship and I believe that thus far this is our
strongest team to date. We ask corporate Trinidad and Tobago to see the value of this achievement and to assist these athletes who are all under 18 years of age, and who all have the potential to be a part of our 2016 Olympic Team.”
St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board has announced the schedule for the West Indies v Pakistan Series starting on July 14. The series will include five One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals. Guyana will host the first two ODIs, followed by three ODIs at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds in St Lucia. The Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St Vincent will host the two Twenty20 Internationals on July 27th and 28th to conclude the tour. The series will also mark the return of international cricket to Guyana after a one year absence. “This has been a bumper year for international cricket in the Caribbean. We have had a full series with West Indies and Zimbabwe and the Celkon Mobile Cup including India and Sri Lanka is about to commence. The seven match series involving Pakistan will give fans, especially cricket starved fans in Guyana, more international cricket action to rally behind the West Indies team,” WICB Corporate Communications Officer Imran Khan said. “2013 has been a landmark year in West Indies cricket with four teams touring the Caribbean for the first time ever outside of world events. We look forward to the fans in Guyana, St Lucia and St Vincent turning out in
their massive numbers to enjoy the cricketing action and the unparalleled cricketing atmosphere which many have copied but not matched,” Khan added. WEST INDIES v PAKISTAN SERIES 2013 – SCHEDULE GUYANA Bourda Cricket Ground Thursday July 11 – Pakistan 50 over warm up game (opposition TBC) Guyana National Stadium, Guyana Sunday July 14 – First ODI Tuesday July 16 – Second ODI ST LUCIA Beausejour Cricket Grounds, St Lucia Friday July 19 – Third ODI Sunday July 21 – Fourth ODI Wednesday July 24 – Fifth ODI ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St Vincent Saturday July 27 – First Twenty20 International Sunday July 28 – Second Twenty20 International
Keen rivalry as Cavaliers Sports and Tour Club stage 10K event The Cavaliers Sports and Tour Club (CS&TC) will stage a 10K walk in memory of the late Clarence D. Kirton around the National Park on Saturday June 29 (tomorrow) and the cream of the nation’s race walkers are scheduled to participate. The man to watch is Lindener, Rudolph Mitchell, whose exploits on the trail
have earned him an unenviable 114 unbeaten streak record. Female contestant, Donna Ramkissoon has also been in training and is expected to walk away with the top prize in the distaff department. The participants will contest for trophies and medals donated by the corporate community. Action time is 06:30hrs.
Windies A blow away SL A... from page 44 Thomas brought up his 50 in the 41st over, collecting two runs on the off-side, but was dismissed next ball as he attempted another boundary off Seekuge Prasanna. He faced 76 balls, batted for 85 minutes and struck four boundaries. Fletcher scored 59 and was seventh out, in the 46th over, playing across a delivery from Suranga Lakmal. Fletcher faced 94 balls and batted for 112 minutes. Spinner Nikita Miller then pushed West Indies close to 200, scoring an aggressive 23 off 22 balls
which included a straight six off the last ball of the innings. The modest total then proved too much for the Sri Lankans who won the first ODI by four wickets before West Indies convincingly won the last two to win the series 2-1. West Indies win the series 2-1. Summarised Scores: West Indies A 196 for 8 off their 50 (Devon Thomas 50, Andre Fletcher 59; Nikita Miller 23 n.o; Suranga Lakmal 3/28). Sri Lanka A 129 all out, off 40.3 overs (Dilruwan Perera 48, Ramith Rambukwella 22; Shannon Gabriel 3/14; Shane Shillingford 3/33).
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 28, 2013
A Touch of Frost: Hamilton England-New Zealand T20 abandoned shows legendary presenter after rain at Oval around Mercedes garage Only two balls were and Tim Robinson, the former
Hamilton talks with Sir David Lewis Hamilton had a special visitor ahead of his bid to win the British Grand Prix this weekend on home soil at Silverstone. The superstar Brit showed legendary TV presenter Sir David Frost around the Mercedes garage as he looks to improve upon his second-placed finish at the Canadian Grand Prix. Sir David was shown around the Mercedes set-up at Silverstone, where Hamilton is a 7-1 shot to finish in pole position. This is
Hamilton’s first season at Mercedes since moving from long-standing team McLaren, and this weekend sees his first home Grand Prix for his new team. Hamilton, whose partner is Nicole Scherzinger, seemed happy to chat to the veteran host about the upcoming race, for which practice runs starts today. Sir David, 74, is one of the most famous faces on British television after appearing on our screend for over 50 years.
Serena Williams beats Caroline Garcia at Wimbledon 2013 Serena Williams was in no mood to join the exodus of top names at Wimbledon as she swept past French teenager Caroline Garcia in round two. The American, 31, showed no sign of following leading rivals Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova out of the tournament, winning 6-3 6-2 on Centre Court. Williams is trying to win a sixth Wimbledon singles title, and has now extended her career-best winning run to 33 matches. She will next play Japan’s Kimiko DateKrumm, who beat Alexandra Cadantu 6-4 7-5 to become the oldest woman to reach Wimbledon’s third round since the open era began in 1969. “She is inspiring and she’s so fit,” Williams told BBC Sport. “I’ve never played her before, but I watched her when I was super young.” Williams dropped just three points on serve in the first set against 19-year-old Garcia, and was equally impressive on the return, with two thumping forehands earning her a break in game five. Garcia dumped an inviting forehand into the net when facing a third set point, but the former junior world number one battled hard in
the second. Williams clenched her fist when she made the key breakthrough to lead 4-2, and Garcia swung a backhand wide to give the American victory after one hour and seven minutes. “I think Caroline’s a really good player,” added Williams. “I played her at the French Open and she played really well, so it was good to get another win. “I really love these moments when I’m out there. I live and die for these moments and it’s really fun.” Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, last year’s runner-up, beat Mathilde Johansson of France 6-1 6-3, and sixth seed Li Na of China beat Romanian Simona Halep 6-2 1-6 6-0. There were early wins for 14th seed Sam Stosur and 23rd seed Sabine Lisicki, who will meet in round three. Australian Stosur beat Olga Puchkova of Russia 6-2 6-2, while Germany’s Lisicki saw off Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1 6-3. Madison Keys, the 18-year-old American who beat Britain’s Heather Watson in round one, made further progress with a 6-4 6-2 win over German 30th seed Mona Barthel.
bowled as England’s Twenty20 international with New Zealand was abandoned because of rain. England recalled Kevin Pietersen on his 33rd birthday, his first international game since a knee injury forced him out of the tour to New Zealand in March. Spinner James Tredwell, captaining the side in place of the injured Eoin Morgan, lost the toss at The Oval. Michael Lumb flicked the first ball for two but edged the next one to slip before steady drizzle intervened. A capacity crowd had gathered in anticipation of similar scenes to Tuesday evening at The Oval when 33 fours and 15 sixes were struck in the sunshine as New Zealand won by five runs. They had been hoping to savour the extra ingredient provided by Pietersen’s return but the weather failed to match the occasion and it was a dreary autumnal picture at the famous Kennington venue when umpires Richard Illingworth
England internationals, abandoned any hope of even a five-over per side contest at 21:07 BST. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum took a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Lumb but that proved to be the final action of the evening. It was the 16th meeting between the teams in all three formats since February, England winning seven matches to New Zealand’s five, and three series to the Kiwis’ two. The rain brought a premature end to a proud day for Tredwell, who became the first Kent player to captain England since Chris Cowdrey in 1988. He was put in charge because of an injury to Eoin Morgan, himself a stand-in captain for Stuart Broad, who was absent with a hand injury. Morgan is due to have surgery on Friday after it emerged he sustained a broken finger in the Champions Trophy semifinal against South Africa on 19 June. Pietersen, who returned from injury in a
Mitchell McClenaghan picked up Michael Lumb off only the second ball of the match County Championship match for Surrey at the weekend and scored 177 not out in the drawn game against Yorkshire, will join up with the
England squad for a warm-up match against Essex, which starts on Sunday. The Ashes series begins at Trent Bridge on 10 July.
MURRAY CHALLENGES ‘INCREDIBLE’ WILLIAMS TO VEGAS SHOWDOWN Serena Williams (L) and Andy Murray
Serena Williams was open to the prospect of a glamorous Las Vegas exhibition match with Andy Murray but said ‘I doubt I’d win a point.’ Murray challenged Williams the Vegas showdown and after the Wimbledon champion’s straight-set victory against Caroline Garcia at Wimbledon on Thursday, the American was asked whether she would be keen to take part in a Battle of the Sexes. ‘It would be fun, but doubt I’d win a point,’
Williams replied. ‘He’s probably one of the top three people I definitely don’t want to play. But, yeah, maybe we can have a little bit of a showdown. That would be fine. ‘I get alleys. He gets no serves. I get alleys on my serves, too. He gets no legs, yeah.’ The mere suggestion that the pair could play each other has echoes of the time the then 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, a tennis superstar of the 1930s and 1940s, took on Margaret Court and Billie Jean
King. Those matches in 1973 drew huge worldwide attention, particularly the latter, in Houston, that was dubbed the Battle of the Sexes. Riggs beat Court but was beaten by King, with their match the central act in a new documentary film. In 1992, Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova in Las Vegas. Murray would be expected to overcome Williams, although he would take nothing for granted. The idea of a clash in the US gambling capital certainly
appeals to the Scot. He wrote in his BBC Sport column: ‘I have been challenged by someone on Twitter to taking on Serena Williams. I’d be up for it, why not? ‘I’ve never hit with her but she’s obviously an incredible player and I think people would be interested to see the men play against the women to see how the styles match up. ‘It’s happened in the past with Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova. How about Las Vegas as a venue?’
Friday June 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 41
Novak Djokovic beats Bobby Future of sport depends on youth Reynolds at Wimbledon By Brian Lewis
World number one Novak Djokovic took advantage of the Centre Court roof to make it hrough to round three on a rain-hit day at Wimbledon. The 2011 champion beat American Bobby Reynolds 76 (7-2) 6-3 6-1 after the roof had been called into action for the first time this week. British number one Laura Robson was among the players to miss out because of the rain, and she will now play Colombia’s Mariana Duque-Marino on Centre Court at 13:00 BST on Friday. Andy Murray will take on Tommy Robredo in the third match on Centre. Reynolds, ranked 156th, made Djokovic work but the top seed prevailed in one hour and 55 minutes, and will play Jeremy Chardy or Jan-Lennard Struff in the last 32. The result means there will be no American man in the third round at Wimbledon for the first time since 1912. Tomas Berdych, Juan Martin del Potro and Richard Gasquet made progress, but fourth seed David Ferrer did not make it onto Court One to play Roberto Bautista Agut before the rain arrived. Djokovic was given a good test by Reynolds, who repeatedly frustrated the Serb by saving a succession of
Novak Djokovic
break points. The 2011 Wimbledon champion needed a tie-break to edge the first set and looked visibly relieved when he finally made the breakthrough in game three of the second. He remained utterly dominant on his own serve, and reeled off eight of the last nine games to win in some style. Seventh seed Berdych, the 2010 finalist, earlier saw off German world number 57 Daniel Brands 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 62 with an impressive 55 winners. Berdych will now play South African 27th seed Kevin Anderson, who beat Michal Przysiezny of Poland 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-4. Del Potro, the eighth seed, beat Canada’s
Jesse Levine 6-2 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 on Centre Court, and said: “I am trying to go far but all the matches are difficult. The Argentine will next face the winner of the match between Grega Zemlja and Grigor Dimitrov, which was finely poised at 9-8 to Zemjla in the fifth set before the rain came. Elsewhere, Australian Bernard Tomic beat veteran James Blake 6-3 6-4 7-5 to set up a third-round tie with ninth seed Gasquet, who beat Japan’s Go Soeda 6-0 6-3 6-7 (7-5) 6-3. Michael Llodra and Paul-Henri Mathieu were the latest men to pull out through injury, taking the number of singles retirements to nine. (BBC Sport)
Froome ‘at an absolute ideal place’, says Team Sky boss PORTO VECCHIO, France (Reuters) - Just like Bradley Wiggins last year, Chris Froome has had the perfect build-up to the Tour de France and he is now “at an absolute ideal place”, according to Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford. Froome won four of the five stage races he has entered this year, crushing all the rivals he will face during the three-week Tour which starts on Saturday. Wiggins won Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie and the Criterium du Dauphine last year on his way to becoming the first Briton to wear the yellow jersey on the Champs Elysees. “Their run-ins to the Tour have been very similar in terms of their performance, in terms of the results they achieved, that’s a positive thing,” Brailsford told a news conference on Thursday. A great season does not, however, guarantee a good result in July as riders sometimes peak too soon. Just like Wiggins last year, Froome is exactly where
Chris Froome
he should be and Brailsford said the key issues were how fresh he is and how strong he is compared to the demands of the race. “I think Chris is at an absolute ideal place this year to use his strength to take on this parcours,” he said. Froome said he felt happy with his preparation. “I’m in super condition,” he said. But Brailsford said there would be no complacency. “We are respectful of the other competitors as always, we don’t take anything for
granted complacency is not a word we contemplate,” he said. Froome, discovering the amount of hype that goes with the status of overwhelming favorite, will first be looking to avoid trouble and to limit the losses on less decisive stages, including the first three on the narrow winding roads of Corsica. “You need to focus on the process, not the outcome on a race this long,” Brailsford said.
There are many people who look to the future of T&T and don’t like what they see. They suggest that the inability of the society to find incorruptible and effective leaders sincere in placing first the national interest and cause, the destruction and decay of our institutions and pervasive bobol are signs that the future is not a bright one. The cynics, realists and pragmatic amongst us hold the view that the performance of civic duty is discouraged given the milieu of destroy what can’t be controlled, vindictiveness, collusion, mamaguy, hypocrisy, dishonesty and insincerity. Independent, strong, effective organisations and institutions aren’t a desired objective. Self restraint, convention, protocol and ethics are damned. Categorical denials seem more manipulative than sincere. Sport is caught in the crossfire. The doomsday pundits and naysayers are having a field day. Is the hopelessness fueled by a disregard for history? Do we take the struggles of our pioneers and institutions for granted? Have we forgotten that latrine pits and barrack yards were once daily realities while television, electricity and motor cars were luxuries for the masses? Have we allowed the
material wealth and conspicuous consumption of an oil and natural gas economy to lull us into a false sense of security and an over reaching sense of entitlement? Cynics and cynicism aside. How do we forge the values, discipline, attitude and fortitude that will foster the quality of life and peace of mind that all right thinking human beings crave? No matter how we dissect, discuss and debate the needed transformation process. It falls to the youth of the nation and youth development. It’s the youth of the nation who hold in their hearts and minds the peace, progress and sustainable development of T&T. Those who care about the welfare of T&T and the national cause must act with a sense of urgency and focus their minds and efforts on the youth of the nation. There is need for a deepening of commitment in respect of youth development. Invest more time, money, energy and effort in the youth of the nation. Meet them at the point of their need and hurt. Hear their cries and feel their pain. They are the future leaders and nation builders. In this regard it was heartwarming to witness firsthand the joy and excitement of some 400 children from primary schools, homes and communities at the Chagville Beach facility during the T&T
Olympic Committee (TTOC) Olympic Day event on Saturday. The TTOC with the help of its corporate partners BPTT and the Guardian Group of Companies transported the children to Chagville and back, provided refreshments during the day while the national sport organisations introduced them to a diverse menu of sporting activities. All aimed at giving the children a fun filled experience that will plant the seed of lifelong health and wellness. The hard working and dedicated TTOC staff received invaluable support and cooperation from the Chaguaramas Development Authority, Police Service, Defence Force physical training instructors, Buzz Concepts, national sport organisations, coaches, sport administrators and service providers. The focus of the TTOC’s annual Olympic Day celebrations is on the youth. Just as all other areas of national life—the future of sport, health and wellness and healthy lifestyle choices, depend on the youth of the nation. Cynicism will not solve our problems. An unwavering belief in the potential and talent of the youth of the nation is the recipe for a better, safer, healthier, happier and progressive T&T. Brian Lewis is the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC). (T&TGuardian)
Irish Open: Rory McIlroy eight shots behind leader Oscar Floren Rory McIlroy posted a disappointing opening round of two-over-par 74 to lie eight shots behind clubhouse leader Oscar Floren at the Irish Open. McIlroy’s indifferent form continued as he carded two birdies and four bogeys. Michael Hoey and Shane Lowry lie one shot off the lead after shooting impressive five under par totals of 67. Graeme McDowell, Gareth Maybin, Alan Dunbar and Padraig Harrington are all well placed on one under, but Darren Clarke finished on a three over par 75. New touring Galgorm professional Gareth Shaw is one over while Northern Ireland amateur Reeve Whitson is four over. Hoey hit four birdies and just one bogey on the front nine and came home with two further birdies to lie one shot behind Floren of Sweden. Hoey and Offaly’s Shane
Lowry, who won the tournament as an amateur in 2009, are among four players on five under par. Lowry opened up with a bogey on the tenth hole but managed six birdies during his round to hold a one shot lead over compatriot Cian McNamara, Andrew Dodt, Paul Casey and Thomas Bjorn. Bjorn won the Irish Open when it was last played at Carton House in 2006 while Casey is attempting to recapture the form which took him to a career-best world ranking of three four years ago. The pair are joined on four under par by surprise packages, Australian Dodt and McNamara. European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley is on two under. McIlroy won five times last year, including his second major title in the US PGA Championship at Kiawah
Island, but has struggled to reproduce that form in 2013. The 24-year-old finished 41st in the US Open at Merion a fortnight ago and on Wednesday apologised for throwing a club and bending his nine iron out of shape during a final round of 76. Starting from the 10th, world number two McIlroy bogeyed the 11th and 12th before hitting back with a birdie on the short par-four 13th, but then dropped another shot on the 18th after a poor drive and equally poor pitch. As the light rain which had been falling for most of the day intensified, McIlroy missed from 15 foot for a birdie on the par-five fourth and then three-putted the parfive eighth from long range. A birdie on the last came as welcome relief but the twotime major champion still admitted to feeling “a little lost” after his round.
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 28, 2013
Asafa Powell beats Kim Collins & Mike GAYLE RETURNS TO FERTILE GROUND medallist, Tirunesh Dibaba, the season’s best in KINGSTON, Jamaica - The first time the team getting Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Rodgers at Golden Spike improved the women’s 10,000m, with West Indies and Sri Lanka together and our preparation Chandimal, Lahiru Asafa Powell won the 100m at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava - twice. The Jamaican, 30, sprinted home in 9.97 seconds only to realise Kemar Hyman of the Cayman Islands had been disqualified for a false start. He ran the race again in the slower time of 10.06 but still beat Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis (10.08) and American Mike Rodgers (10.16). Sally Pearson made a victorious return to
international action, clocking 12.67 to win the women’s 100m hurdles. Australia’s world and Olympic champion, 26, has been struggling with a hamstring injury. Elsewhere, world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva, 31, won the women’s pole vault with 4.78m, while France’s Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie, 26, won the men’s event with 5.92m. Another Olympic gold
the 27-year-old of Ethiopia clocking 30 minutes 26.67 seconds. And 20-year-old Kirani James of Grenada extended his dominance in the men’s 400m, holding off South African Wayde van Niekerk to win in 44.49. World 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt pulled out of the Golden Spike event earlier in the week, preferring to focus on his training.
Boxers tout fistic fury as Guyana Fight Night moves over to the West Coast The dye has been cast and tomorrow night 10 professional boxers and 8 amateurs will step into the ring and for the first time in the history of the sport residents of the West Coast Demerara will be afforded the opportunity of witnessing those bouts live when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) stages the 28th Edition of Guyana Fight Night (GFN) boxing card at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, tomorrow night. This ground has witnessed many an exciting football encounter and for that reason anticipation is high as residents along the West Coast corridor prepare for a night of fistic fury. Indeed, whereas much is expected from the professionals, for the first time the amateur fights promise just as much excitement. When the action gets underway at 20:00hrs, Jamie Kelman of the Young Achievers Boxing Gym (YABG) will square off with Quancy Wright of the Essequibo Boxing Gym (EBG) in the 50-54lbs class followed by Squalie Wright (EBG) up against Shemar Bumbury of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) in the 75-79lbs division. Wright’s gym mate, Shaka Moore, will take on Stephon Green of the Harpy Eagles (HE) in the 105-109lbs category while Quincy Boyce (GDF) will bring the amateur segment to a climax when he faces Travis Hubbard (HE) in the 118-125lbs division. Organiser of amateur bouts, Terrence Poole explained that that since the card would be held on the West Coast it would be justified to match fighters of that area against those from Georgetown. As such, three of the bouts will feature boxers out of the Essequibo Boxing Gym against their Georgetown counterparts.
The Boyce/Hubbard shindig is the exception to the rule but the organizers explained that these two pugilists had squared off before in an earlier edition of GFN which Hubbard had won. Boyce was adamant that he had done enough to win and begged for a second chance to prove himself. He will receive that opportunity tomorrow night and yesterday afternoon he said that he intends to reverse his fortunes. Otherwise, the professionals will support the amateur efforts as they will get into action 30 minutes after that segment of the card. While the Revlon Lake/ Dexter Gonsalves jnr/ lightweight title clash is expected to produce fireworks, the 4 rounds middleweight, scrap between Eversley Browne and debutant, Romeo Norville, is shaping up to be a humdinger. Brown, a lanky fighter with a very good jab and right cross was not at yesterday’s forum but his coach, Ovid London spoke on his behalf. A clearly hyped up London promised all manner of punishment for Norville. He said that he has taken his charge through his drills “and I have been very cruel,” declared London. He said that the fact that his charge could have endured such cruelty convinces him (London) that he is ready for battle. “It is that very brand of cruelty that my fighter will display tomorrow night,” he proclaimed. For his part, Norville preferred to remain quiet but promised that by the end of the bout he would be the one with the raised hand. This irked London who then promised that his fighter would take out Norville in the 3rd round. That threat finally managed to elicit Norville’s
response, “You promise to take me out in three but you will not be around that long; I will knock you out in the second round,” declared a clearly agitated Norville. He may be a young professional but Norville has made an impression in the amateur arena, winning 91 of his bouts while conceding 14. Laured Stewart also makes his professional debut against Anson Green, also over 4 rounds. The latter boxer is a relatively young professional with a 2-1 record but he said that his experience exceeds Stewart’s. But Stewart is no slouch and has represented Guyana several times in Barbados. His father, Laurex, was a classy fighter and the younger Stewart has demonstrated similar acumen. However, he will have to prove that he is capable of a smooth transition into the professional arena. He thinks he is; Green said he intends to prove that Stewart is not yet ready to mingle among the big boys. In other bouts, Kelsey George will come up against veteran, Troy Lewis, in a 4 rounds middleweight encounter while Leon Moore tackles Errol Trotman also over 6 rounds. The boasts are brazen and it appears as though most of the bouts will be abbreviated. Whichever way it goes, at least one thing is certain, West coast resident are guaranteed a night of fistic fury. Fans are assured of uninterrupted entertainment should it rain; administrators have said that they are prepared for such eventualities and the ring would be set up under a large tent with similar facilities for patrons. An admission fee of $1,500 will be charged for any part of the ground. Musical entertainment will be provided by Slingerz Sound System.
square-off at Sabina Park today as the curtain rises on the Celkon Mobile Cup trination series which also involves India. And one of the most dangerous players in the shorter form of the games, Chris Gayle, has put bowlers on alert as he prepares to set foot on a ground where he blasted a century the last time he played there. The last time Gayle played an ODI in Jamaica he smashed 125 from 107 balls enabling the West Indies to victory over New Zealand. “It is overdue,” declared Gayle. “It’s been a while and last year I got a hundred here and hopefully this time I can get another one here”. West Indies, the world T20 champions, are due to play India on Sunday, following Friday’s (today) opening fixture. The Caribbean cricketers have been involved in training sessions at Sabina Park following their arrival here earlier in the week. “(It’s been a) good day.
for Friday (tomorrow) is looking good. We have another training session tomorrow (today) and we are actually looking forward to that as well,” said Gayle. “The guys getting a feel again coming out of the cold after a few days home and getting back to acclimatise to our home condition and looking forward to a good start here”. Gayle, 33, who has the impressive record of 20 ODI centuries with a top score of 175, scoring over 8,000 runs at an average of 38, said exploiting home advantage is crucial to their success. “We should use the home advantage to the best of our (abilitys) and capitalise on that,” he said. “They won’t be in their comfort zone so we have to put the pressure on them as much as possible and let them know that we are home and stamp our authority”. The Sri Lankan outfit is made-up of a new generation of players including captain
Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Shamida Eranga. West Indies are a strong side in limitedovers based on the presence of a number of power-packed players. However, most of these players have earned their reputations playing in faraway lands for an assortment of teams. “The good thing about it, during the Champions Trophy we get to play both teams,”said gayle. “We played Sri Lanka in a warm-up which we actually won and India beat us in the second game, so we know their strengths and weaknesses”. Gayle believes the team is ready to bounce back from their unfortunate exit from the Champions Trophy. “We were bubbling in England but we were disappointed with how we got bounced out of the tournament,” said the big hitter. “This is a new tournament now and everybody is starting back from scratch”. (CMC)
Linden Sec. Sch. U-19 B/ball Semis now on today @ MSC LTI face Multi; Wisburg oppose Linden Foundation
Travin Dryden
Ian Williams
The semi-finals of the 9th edition of the Linden Secondary Schools Under-19 basketball championship has been shifted to today instead of yesterday, weather permitting at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court, Linden. The matches were put off from yesterday due to rain which made the venue unplayable. However, the Linden Amateur Basketball Association is hoping that the penultimate set of matches can be held where game-one at 14:30hrs brings together the unbeaten Christianburg Wismar Secondary and defending champions Linden Technical
Institute. Game two will see Linden Foundation Secondary bouncing against Wisburg Secondary. Captain and leading scorer Travin Dryden will lead Christianburg/Wismar while LTI will depend on the leadership of Ian Williams. Vibert Benjamin will lead Linden Foundations aim for victory while Wisburg’s charge will centre around Tahquille Johnson. The matchups for both games are likely to be settled around some key players who have been playing sound basketball throughout this championship. Expectations are high for
Vibert Benjamin
Tahquille Johnson today’s matches and the sponsors have shown their support for this year’s championship both locally and overseas.